Longtime NASCAR touring division regular Bryon Chew announced Friday that he is retiring from full-time competition.
Bryon Chew behind the wheel of Whelen Modified Tour ride (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
Chew, of Mattituck, N.Y., began his career running at NASCAR’s touring level with the K&N Pro Series East in 1999. He made 129 starts over 10 seasons with the before moving into full-time competition on the Whelen Modified Tour in 2011.
In three seasons on the Whelen Modified Tour Chew made 42 starts with a career best finish of fourth, coming in the 2013 event at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. Chew finished 17th in the Modified Tour standings this past season.
Away from racing, Chew is the general manager of Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac on Long Island.
“I’m running the business, I have three young kids, I have so much stuff going on right now,” Chew said in a release from NASCAR. “With the time that I have to devote to this business growing more and more each year, I’m going to stop racing cars at this point.
“It’s time to make this decision now, at 42 years old, and get to the business and my kids. It’s a little upsetting. I’ve raced for 18 [years] with NASCAR. It’s a tough decision.”
Chew did confirm that despite his retirement the Buzz Chew Racing outfit will continue to run full-time on the Whelen Modified Tour. The team plans to name a driver in the coming weeks.
“I might do a couple races during the year at some point – I’m not sure about that – but I will field the car,” Chew said. “I will have a car there full-time with somebody in it. I don’t have a driver picked out yet. My father and my crew chief are working on that, but we are definitely going to put someone in the car for the whole year.”
The is a big time team with great equipment and with the right driver will contend for wins and a championship.
Here’s my list.
Theirs two at the top of my list.
Doug Coby a real racers racer. With Wayne Darlings 52 team looking for someone to split the season with in 2014 Coby would be my choice. I love the 52 team as is, but a split season is not the way to go. I do not see a split season with anyone ending in a Championship run. Doug also has to look out for himself and put himself in the best position possible for another Championship run. (If the 22 Opens up Coby could land their.)
I don’t really need to say anything else about Doug Coby. He is a Champion.
The other driver at the top of my list is Matt Hirschman. Everyone that follows Matt knows he is also a Champion.
Matt showed everyone at the Thompson World Series what he is capable of in his own potent #60 machine. Matt would be a great choice for the 88 team. One thing Matt would bring to the team is stability, his knowledge of the Troyer Chassis and how to set it up. We all know Matt knows how to win races and Championships. Matt deserves this chance and this would be in the best equipment Matt has ever had a chance to run the Tour with.
If Coby takes the 88 ride then maybe just maybe the 52 team of Darling and the 60 team of Hirschman could run a split season together on the WMT. It worked before when they finished 2nd in the WMT point standings.
The 88 team could go with fellow Long Islander Timmy Solomito who we all know could make the jump to the WMT full time. This kid has a load of talent.
Others in no particular order are young hot shoes Tommy Barrett, Shaun Solomito , Steve Masse and Max Zachem all looking for first class rides.
Don’t forget about veternans Chuck Hossfeld and Woody Pitkat. I sure each would love to land this ride.
What about Andy J
Jankowiak?
Woody or Doug has my vote.