Bobby East

Nine Racing Driver 2002–2005

Bobby East carries a name that is synonymous with winning in open wheel racing. In 2002 and 2003, Bobby ran the pavement races only in the #19 Pink Ford ASE Beast midget of Nine Racing, and won his first USAC event with the team in August at Berlin Raceway. During the 2004 season, he stepped up to take on the responsibility and prestige of driving the #9 full time. He was triumphant at seven events: at Terre Haute Action Track, Eldora Speedway, Tucson Raceway Park, twice at Belleville High Banks, and twice at Irwindale Speedway. As a result of his remarkable success in 2004, he was named USAC National Midget Series Champion and USAC National Midget Driver of the Year. It was only natural for Bobby to join Nine Racing, as his father, famed open wheel chassis builder Bob East, was the team’s manager at the time.

Bobby began his racing career at the age of nine in quarter midgets. After five seasons in quarter midgets, he moved up to Kenyon cars, and claimed 12 feature wins. In 2001, he moved up to USAC’s National Midget Series, and with it, experienced an unprecedented year. He became the youngest driver ever to win a national feature race at 16, claimed three USAC National wins, two USAC Regional wins, and earned the USAC National Midget Series Rookie of the Year award. When Bobby won the USAC National Midget feature at Berlin Raceway, he earned the 100th feature win for Nine Racing, in the #19.

During 2003, Bobby racked up four feature USAC victories. He was the winningest driver during the 2004 USAC season with 15 victories among the USAC’s three divisions. He was 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. One of the season’s highlights was winning the famed Turkey Night Grand Prix in the #9 car.

Bobby, the winner of more than 20 national USAC events, made his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series in October 2005 at Memphis Motorsports Park, finishing a solid 17th. Next, he made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in a Roush Racing Ford at Phoenix. Bobby has also run in a few ARCA events. He now drives the #09 Zaxby’s Ford F-150 for Jack Roush part time in the Craftsman Truck Series.