September 6, 2013 – By Jacob Seelman for Speed 77 Radio and Race Chaser Online – Stanfield, NC – For Ben Ross, the motorsports business isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.
Taking after his older brother Steven, the 14-year-old Ross has firmly entrenched himself in the motorsports industry, although in a very different fashion than his sibling. While Steven, formerly a driver, has moved to car ownership in the US Legends ranks, Ben has picked up the toolbox and slid into the role of crew chief in the Bandolero garage area.
Balancing his duties at the racetrack with a full high-school schedule, Ben has already made waves and established a reputation as a top wrench turner in Bandolero competition over the past two years, leading his young driver Dawson Cram to 19 wins over the past two seasons.
“Ben is a very driven and focused young man with a bright future ahead of him,” co-car owner Kim Cram expressed. “We saw his intensity and passion when we asked him to come on-board and we are so fortunate to have him on our team!”
Beyond just his own team, though, the younger Ross has caught the eyes of many in the garage area, including Mike Torres, whose son Michael drives for Ben’s older brother Steven and won earlier this season at the Summer Shootout.
“His accomplishments do not surprise me at all,” Torres said when asked about the aspiring crew chief. “He’s made a lot of things work with that Bandolero team this year and it’s easy to see that he’s following in his brother’s footsteps in motorsports.”
Ross nearly led his driver to a victory in the 2013 Bandolero Nationals at Bethel Speedway in New York last month, but Dawson Cram ultimately had to settle for second to race winner and national championship leader, Chandler Smith.
“It was real tough coming so close at Nationals,” Ross said following the Nationals last month in an interview with Race Chaser Online correspondent and Speed77 Radio analyst Jacob Seelman. “I knew he had it in him, we got every ounce of speed we could out of the car. It just wasn’t meant to be our day this time.”
When asked what is plans are for the future, Ben says he’s willing to work with the Cram team as long as they’ll have him, but adds that “I want to take it to the next level”.
“Right now, I’m having so much fun working with Dawson and developing my talents behind the toolbox. But I want to be able to get to the top level one day. I want to be able to match numbers with Chad Knaus and win five championships, or more. Yeah, it’s a high goal, but you gotta follow your dreams, you know?”
And with where he’s followed his dreams to so far, he’s left little doubt that he can ultimately put himself all the way to the top.
PHOTO CREDIT: Cram Racing Enterprises
CREW CHIEF PROFILE:
Name: Ben Ross
School: West Stanly High School, Freshman
Team: Cram Racing Enterprises
Car Owners: Kim Cram, Kevin Cram
Driver: Dawson Cram
2013 Stats: 12 wins, 41 top 5’s, 41 top 10’s in 44 events
Audio Interview:
