You’re only as old as you feel,β and 82-year-old Dick Christman was feeling great as he returned to stock car racing Friday, May 26, in Superior at Gondik Law Speedway.
“My nephew Robbie had to work Friday night, and he said, why don’t you drive the car? and I said, well, I’ll try,” Christman said.
He started racing in the 1960s, and it all started when he got behind the wheel of a 1948 Mercury. ; so I drove it and did pretty well. That got me going, and I’ve been racing ever since.”
Christman has raced throughout the Northland and Thunder Bay, Canada and has racked up nearly 300 outstanding wins in his 35+ year career. He has 49 wins at Gondik Law Speedway.
When the No. 89 car was on those dirt tracks Friday through Sunday night, there was only one goal in mind for Christman, and it wasn’t going home empty-handed. “The most important thing is to win! To pass someone you’ve cornered. You go low, you go high, or whatever; this is the great rush of racing. hit someone; you can take second or third place, but a guy wants to take the checkered flag.”
![](https://www.wdio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/82-Year-Old-Dick-Christman.png)
With more than a decade away from the sport, it hasn’t had a huge impact on his knowledge, love and ability to return to racing.
βIt’s like driving a car, once you drive a car you never forget it. You know you can take a couple years off and still know how to do it. Racing never leaves me, never leaves me,β expressed Christman.
On that warm and slightly breezy Friday night in Superior, the same goal that was primary every time Christman ran more than 35 years ago still never changed. “Once the checkered flag drops, I don’t care if you’re 100 years old or five years old, I’m going to do my thing. I’m going to enjoy the day because there’s not too many 82-year-old guys who can do what I’m doing.”
Christman finished 7th in his series and 6th in the pure stock feature.