Pete Rondeau Enjoys Return to Driver's Seat During Open Comp 200 at Oxford Plains

When the entry lists started coming out for the huge Oxford 250 weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway, there was a familiar name posted for the Super Late Model Open Competition 200, but in a different category.

Pete Rondeau – No. 60, driver.

The native of Saco, Maine is best known for his leadership roles in the NASCAR ranks for many years. The last time he wheeled a race car was in 1998 in what was then known as the NASCAR Busch North Series. Overall, Rondeau made 18 Busch North starts from 1994 to 1998 earning three top-10 finishes.

Donning a driver’s suit for the first time in 27 years came about in the simplest of ways.

“I’ve been helping Dale, Stephanie and D.J. Shaw about five times a year, with the Oxford 250 being a main one,” Rondeau said. “We had talked about me driving for them in the past, but you know…it was talk.

“Then, Dale called and said he bought one of his old race cars back and they wanted me to drive in the Open Comp race on Friday. After I said yes, I asked how long of a race are we talking about. When they told me 200 laps, my response was ‘For real?!"

When the opportunity to put Rondeau came up, D.J. Shaw said it was something wanted to do for him for a while.

“Pete’s been coming up to help us out for a few of the bigger races, like the Oxford 250,” D.J. Shaw said. “He’s been really helpful to our program helping us earn two third-place finishes in two 250’s."

“He’s done a lot for us and we try to give back a little bit by supporting the race, having a little fun and getting him to knock some of the driving rust off. I was good to see him light that fire back up that’s been burning in there for a few years.”

While the driver Rondeau didn’t have a great finish in the Open Comp 200, he knew his game plan going into the race.

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“We had a 100 percent legal PASS Super Late, while others took advantage of the open rules and made modifications. The car was tight and then it didn’t handle the same after our pit stop.

“I told them if I got tired, I’d pull in so as not to mess up anyone else’s day and hurt our car. When I got slid off turn one there, I saw the road into the garage in front of me (at the exit of turn two) and figured that was as a good time as any to call it a night.”

His NASCAR racing resume consists of crew chief for drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Regan Smith and Michael Waltrip. He and Smith earned a Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway in 2011.

Rondeau was also the Director of Research & Development for Evernham Motorsports with his last stint in NASCAR as the Competition Director with the former championship team of Furniture Row Racing. Since then, he’s been working for NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham in multiple capacities.

Like any racer, once the smell of Nomex and the feel of driving comes back, one wonders if it could happen again.

“Oh yeah, we’ve already talked about,” Rondeau said with a laugh. “We’re looking at a few more races with me driving.

“I had fun.”

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America