Chad Wienen

Interview and photos by Aaron Bievenue

Name: Chad Wienen Nickname: Neverlift Home: Galena IL Born in: Dubuque, IA Occupation: Pro Motocross Racer Marital Status: Single Education: Galena High School Bros Sis: One Brother Kids: None Pets: Dog (Torque)Began Riding in: 1998 First ATV: Kawi Acota 300 Current Quad: Can-Am DS450 Racing #: 44 Race Series: AMA Motocross Sponsors: Can-Am, Motoworks, Monster, Fly, Alpine Stars, Scott, Shoei, AVS, T.O.P. Performance Training Must have ATV bolt on: Fox Shox Best Track: Red Bud, MI Home Track: Walnut IL Ride Spot: T.O.P. Training Grounds Holeshot or pass to front: Pass to Front Whip: 2006 Chevy 2500 First job: Work for Family Hottest Girl: Danica Boehm Favorite Place: Home Worst Place: Bronsin, FL Restaurant Chain: Noodles and Co. Worst Habit? Eating Pet Peeves: Line-jumpers and pushy people in a hurry Addiction: Chewy Bars Flicks? Anything funny with some suspense Laptop or PC? Laptop Website: chadwienen44.com Magazine: ATV Insider, Racer X Cell Phone & Carrier? iPhone 4, ATT What’s on your iPod? Just about everything What’s usually on your TV? Field TV, TBS What’s on your walls? Paint High School Extracurricular: Football Favorite Sports Team: Vikings, Wisconsin Badgers Favorite athlete: Adrian Peterson Coolest thing you’ve won: High School Football State Championship Tattoos, Piercings: None Trade places with for a day? Michael Jordan Who do you admire? Dad, he doesn’t let a lot of things get to him New Year’s Resolution: Red Plate Bucket list? Championship, 2 kids (boys), Good Health and Happiness Motto: 110%

How hungry are you for the 2011 championship?
You don’t even know

Do you have the same factory ride you did last year?
Yes

Who do you think will be the guys to beat for 2011?
I don’t count anyone out that lines up in the pro gate.

Is it true you passed up a college football scholarship to race ATVs?
Yes I did. In 2003 my high school football team won the 1A State Championship against Leroy, IL. We were fortunate enough to play in the same stadium as the University of Illinois. I had a great game and put down 16 solo tackles and four assisted tackles. After the game I had a couple of big schools in Wisconsin and Iowa take interest in me joining their team.

That’s a pretty big decision to make. What made you choose ATV racing over college football?
Looking over my options I knew that if I chose motocross my future would be solely in my hands instead of the hands of 60 other football teammates. After my decision I knew that I could get where I wanted to be by training hard and having a great bike setup underneath me.

 

Any regrets on choosing ATV motocross over football?
No not really, I feel I made the right decision. Don’t get me wrong I miss football but I still carry that same kind of fire inside me to the track!

What takes more work, training to be a professional football player or training to be a pro quad racer?
Well I know what I do to get to where I need to be and I am sure there are football players out there that don’t hit it as hard as I do. But look at some college and pro football players, they’re amazing at what they do! I think it’s a totally different breed, but similar in that both motocross riders and football players do amazing things that absolutely blow people away – yet it feels normal to us.

Speaking of college football, what’s your team?
Wisconsin Badgers! They are doing work this season!

I take it you watch football a lot?
Absolutely! Football is still a big part of my life. I love football season.

Were there times when you thought you made the wrong choice?
Let’s just say it was a great day when Suzuki signed me on as a factory backed pro. I’ll never forget that day.

I sort of think you put your first pro national championship on hold when you signed on to ride the new Can-Am. You had to know the machine was still being dialed in and not as competitive in the pro ranks.
I’m grateful for each and every opportunity that I’ve been given in life. Yes, the last few seasons we’ve had to develop bikes to get them to a championship level but we now have the DS450 where it needs to be. Our team is going to be battling for the top spot every weekend.

 

So has this delay in your championship quest made the fire even hotter?
Yes, there’s definitely a missing link in my career, a championship. I am willing to do whatever it takes to run that #1 plate. All of our team members want a championship more than anything and we are dedicating everything to make that happen. It’s time to make this dream a reality and I’m not going to let it slip away from me this year! Stay tuned to see something great!

Do you feel that the DS450 is still in the “dialing-in” process?
The team has put in so much hard work. If you could see what they’ve done to improve this quad you would be amazed. The entire team has devoted so much time in testing and tuning. It’s a huge team effort that has also made us closer and an overall better team. As for the quad being dialed in. It’s absolutely ready to roll and fits me like a glove. I love it!

Are there team tactics that Can-Am asks of you or John Natalie?
No, not all.

I know you’re extremely dedicated and nothing is more important than training and preparing to win a championship, but there has to be a day or two that you do something else with your time. Do you golf?
Yes, I get away from training once in a while, and I like to golf a little here and there. It’s a good way to recharge the batteries before hitting it hard again.

Where do you plan to train this off-season?
I’m heading south to Texas to train on a new track in Kent, Texas called the Underground.

What’s this T.O.P Program you’ve got going on?
It’s a training program that Justin Carter and myself have been working on. Justin created it himself about four years ago. It’s meant to help riders improve on and off the bike. Trust me, it works!

Any thoughts on the 2011 series schedule?
I’m not exactly excited about starting so early, but I will be ready for it when it comes.

What kind of goals have you set for this up and coming season?
Plain and simple, a Championship.

When you do eventually hang it up, how do you want to be remembered in the sport?
A guy that blazed his own path and made a positive impact in the sport as a fan favorite.

Anything on your mind?
Yeah, 2011.

Any parting words?
Yes, to all the youngsters out there. Whatever you want to do in life, don’t settle for anything less. Make sure you get out there and try to capture it. And know that it won’t come easy. It will take a lot of hard work but don’t give up.

Any thank yous?
Yes, thanks to my family, friends and fans! Can Am, Motoworks, T.O.P Performance Training, FLY, Alpinestars, Shoei, EVS, Scott, Rath, Fox Shox, Lucky’s Perfection Photography and everyone who has helped me to get to where I am today, you know who you are. Thank you so much!

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