Bobby East

62
Bobby East bigraphy, stories - American racing driver

Bobby East : biography

December 17, 1984 –

Robert East, born in Torrance, California on December 17, 1984, is an American auto racing driver. He has raced in the United States Auto Club, the Auto Racing Club of American, and NASCAR. He currently resides in Brownsburg, Indiana. In 2001, East became the youngest driver in USAC history to win a feature when he won a USAC National Midget event at the Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana at the age of 16 years, six months, and 25 days in 2001.

East competed full-time in the USAC National Midget Series where he was the champion in 2004 driving the Steve Lewis Racing #9. The car’s chassis was built by his father, Bob East, who is legendary short-track car builder of midgets, sprints, and silver crown machines. The title gave him the distinction of the being the youngest national champion in the series’ history at age 19.

East was the most victorious driver during the 2004 USAC season with 15 victories among the series’ three divisions. He wound up in victory lane seven times in national midgets, five times in national sprint cars, and once each in the Silver Crown, Western States Sprint Car, and Speedrome Regional Midget Series during the season. The highlights of the season were winning the Hut Hundred and the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

East has moved on to NASCAR. He made his Busch Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park in October 2005, finishing a solid 17th. He then made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in a Roush Racing Ford at Phoenix. However, he wrecked late in that event.

East currently is a member of Ford Motor Company’s driver development program and competed in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2006 for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing as a teammate to fellow rookie Marcos Ambrose. He finished 23rd in points despite missing two races. In 2007, East ran with Brewco Motorsports, splitting time in the #27 and #37 cars, and a few ARCA races as well. He will race part-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2008, driving the #09 Zaxby’s Ford F-150 for Jack Roush.