Retirement Could Be A Relative Term For Modified Racing Standout Chuck Hossfeld

By Denise DuPont

LOUDON, N.H. – Earlier this year Chuck Hossfeld announced his plans to retire from Modified racing.

As he approaches forty years old, his thoughts are shifting. He owns two business and it may be time to buckle down and concentrate on businesses and living life. 

Hossfeld began racing at the age of twelve in kart racing at Lancaster Speedway. Five years later, he began racing stock cars at local short tracks and moved to North Carolina, working for former Modified drivers Brett Bodine and Randy LaJoie. He made his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut in the 2000 season finale at California Speedway in the #49 for Roush Racing.

In 2002, Hossfeld began racing in the Whelen Modified Tour in the famous #4 Mystic Missile for Bob Garbarino and scored five wins with the team. In 2005, he moved to Don Barker’s team, gaining five top-five spots and finishing third in overall points.

After that he ran the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. And he has also competed yearly in the Tour Type Modified events at the World Series events at New Smyrna Speedway.

So when Hossfeld announced he was retiring from racing in the prime of his career, heads turned and attention was focused on him.

“When I made the announcement to retire I could not believe the attention I got” said Hossfeld, who finished fourth in Saturday’s Whelen Modified Tour Musket 250 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway driving for Gershow Racing in place of the injured Jimmy Blewett. “It was so humbling when people came up to me and the fans that were there where ever I went. It has been very flattering and it is something that I will never forget.” 

After making the announcement, interest also arose around Hossfeld’s racing equipment.

“I have someone interested in purchasing all of my equipment and I am definitely ending my race team as a whole.” Hossfeld said. “And yes, I did plan on retiring from racing 100%. But as I mentioned my phone now rings more and more. As soon I announced I was done racing, I started to receive more and more calls to drive cars.”

Now that he has made the official announcement, Hossfeld’s life has shifted and racing is changing from a business to a sport.

“I have had more and more fun racing especially with my girlfriend, Sherry, being involved,” Hossfeld said. “If I get to drive someone else’s car it is a lot more fun for me. I have my own team at home, and even though I love my guys and a lot of the things about owning a race team, it is a full time job on top of a full time job.

“I am at a point in my life right now, where I am turning forty, and I want to start focusing some of the funds and money on some other projects that I have. And at the current time racing is taking away from them. I own two businesses and I am certainly not a millionaire. I now want to focus more on them. So my plan is to shift my life a little bit and focus on those projects.”

So we will see what the future will bring as Hossfeld makes changes in his life and his future. It appears that racing may not be out of his plans totally. After an exciting show of his talent at NWMT Musket 250 at NHMS and the interest in his driving skills, Hossfeld may have announced his retirement too soon.  And as far as his girlfriend Sherry, Hossfeld is excited to have her by his side and involved in his life and hobby.