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Charles Glen Little Jr. (born April 29, 1963) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He holds a degree in marketing from Washington State University and a J.D. degree from Gonzaga University. While attending Washington State University, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Key Information

Little currently works at NASCAR as managing director for technical inspection and officiating. Little had previously been director of the Camping World Truck Series, as well as the director of racing development for Mexico and the Whelen Modified Tour.[1] He keeps regular office hours in the sanctioning body's research and development center in Concord, North Carolina. He also was a part-time studio analyst for Speed Channel. He is the father of Jesse Little.

Early years

[edit]

Little began racing the short tracks in Washington in the mid-1980s. He soon began racing in the American Speed Association West late model series, the NASCAR Northwest Tour Series and the NASCAR Winston West Series. One year after being named the NASCAR Winston West Rookie of the Year, Little clinched that series' championship in 1987.

Little made his NASCAR Winston Cup debut in 1986 at Riverside International Raceway, driving the No. 28 Ford owned by George Jefferson. He started 25th and finished thirteenth. He ran the other Riverside race that year but finished 35th after suffering engine failure. He ran both the Riverside races the next year, finishing fifteenth both times in the No. 95 Coors Ford.

The following year, Little was eligible for NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors and signed to drive the No. 90 for Junie Donlavey. However, his best finish was an eighteenth, at the Coca-Cola 600, and he was released early in the season. In 1989, he missed United Airlines Flight 232. About a third of the passengers aboard the flight perished during its emergency landing in Iowa. In 1990, Little and his father Chuck teamed to field their own entry, the No. 19 Ford sponsored by Bull's Eye Barbecue Sauce. He ran eighteen races and had seven top-twenty finishes, garnering a 33rd place points finish. The following season, Little made his first full-time attempt at winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship, qualifying for 28 out of 29 races and posting a tenth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing 27th in points.

Busch Series

[edit]

In 1992, Little signed to drive the No. 66 TropArctic-sponsored Ford for Cale Yarborough but was released six races into the season. Later, he caught on to the No. 9 Ford fielded by Melling Racing and had an eighth-place finish at Talladega. He also made his Busch Series debut that year, starting and finishing 29th in the No. 37 Maxx Race Cards-sponsored Oldsmobile at Watkins Glen International.

In 1993, Little, along with Greg Pollex and former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, formed Mark Rypien Motorsports, running the No. 23 If It's Paper-Bayer Select-sponsored Ford on a limited basis that year, posting a second-place finish at Dover International Speedway. The next year, the team went full time and Little had 10 top-five finishes, finishing third in points. He also drove the No. 97 Ford at the Daytona 500 that season, finishing 29th. In 1995, Little broke through and won six races during the course of the season, including the first two races of the season, at Daytona and Rockingham, and finished second in points, behind Johnny Benson. His other wins were at Loudon, Charlotte, Talladega and South Boston. Little did not win a race the following season, however, and slipped to sixth in points. He also ran nine Winston Cup Series races, five in Pollex's No. 97 Sterling Cowboy-sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix, and another four for Diamond Ridge Motorsports, posting a twentieth-place finish at Darlington Raceway,

Winston Cup

[edit]
Little's 1997 Winston Cup car

In 1997, Little returned to the Winston Cup Series, running the No. 97 Pontiac for Pollex with a sponsorship from John Deere. He finished seventh at the Food City 500, but the team struggled to make races. Late in the year, Jack Roush purchased the team to be added to his stable for 1998. Little ended 1997 36th in points.

In 1998, Little drove for Roush full time with Jeff Hammond as crew chief. Running 32 out of 33 races, he had seven top-tens, including a second-place run at Texas, finishing behind Mark Martin, and finished a career-high fifteenth in points. He was unable to duplicate that performance in 1999, posting just five top-tens and finishing 23rd in points. After just one top-ten in 2000, Roush announced Little would not drive the 97 the following season. Late in the year, Little was pulled out of the car and replaced by his successor, Kurt Busch, with Hammond still as crew chief. During the season, he also ran a handful of races in the Busch Series. Originally running the No. 30 for Innovative Motorsports, he was released and posted a top-ten in a one-race deal with PPI Motorsports.

Little had 217 career Cup starts in all.

Final years as driver

[edit]

In 2001, Little signed to drive the No. 74 Staff America-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo for BACE Motorsports in the Busch Series. He had six top-tens and finished ninth in points. He started off 2002 running for BACE, but the team closed after three races due to sponsor issues. He made his final Cup start in a BACE car at Dover that year, finishing 33rd. He has not run NASCAR since.

Post-driving career

[edit]

In 2004, Chad called several Truck and Xfinity races from the booth.

Chad later provided competition support for the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series, and became the tour director for the Whelen Modified Tour.

Starting in 2013, Chad took on the role of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series managing director.[2] On February 2, 2015, NASCAR announced that Little would be moving into a new role, as a managing director of technical inspection and officiating. His role as director was replaced by another former driver, Elton Sawyer.[3]

Motorsports career results

[edit]

NASCAR

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

[edit]
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NWCC Pts Ref
1986 Jefferson Racing 28 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD
13 		POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
35 		70th 182 [4]
1987 95 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD
15 		MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD
15 		ATL 60th 236 [5]
1988 Stoke Racing 19 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD
23 		POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN CLT
DNQ 		NWS CAR 45th 405 [6]
Autosports Enterprises MCH
27 		BRI DAR RCH DOV
15 		MAR
Jefferson Racing PHO
19 		ATL
1989 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY
36 		CAR ATL
35 		RCH
22 		DAR
37 		BRI NWS MAR
26 		TAL
34 		CLT
18 		DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH
26 		BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 38th 602 [7]
1990 Little Racing 19 Ford DAY
DNQ 		RCH
16 		CAR ATL
19 		DAR
16 		BRI
DNQ 		NWS MAR TAL
15 		CLT
24 		DOV SON
37 		POC
18 		MCH DAY
27 		POC TAL
19 		GLN MCH
22 		BRI
DNQ 		DAR
35 		RCH
32 		DOV MAR
17 		NWS
24 		CLT
40 		CAR
25 		ATL
27 		33rd 1632 [8]
Moroso Racing 20 Olds PHO
21
1991 Little Racing 19 Ford DAY
14 		RCH
16 		CAR
22 		ATL
18 		DAR
36 		BRI
14 		NWS
DNQ 		MAR
27 		TAL
38 		CLT
25 		DOV
29 		SON
28 		POC
23 		MCH
26 		DAY
29 		POC
12 		TAL
12 		GLN
11 		MCH
25 		BRI
14 		DAR
36 		RCH
34 		DOV
16 		MAR
24 		NWS
21 		CLT
10 		CAR
23 		PHO
30 		ATL
21 		27th 2678 [9]
1992 Cale Yarborough Motorsports 66 Ford DAY
39 		CAR
22 		RCH
23 		ATL
23 		DAR
33 		BRI
23 		NWS MAR TAL CLT 31st 1669 [10]
Melling Racing 9 Ford DOV
26 		SON POC
37 		MCH
21 		DAY
24 		POC
17 		TAL
8 		GLN MCH
17 		BRI DAR
34 		RCH
27 		DOV
29 		MAR NWS CLT
33 		CAR
24 		PHO ATL
17
1993 DAY
24 		CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT
34 		DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS 51st 216 [11]
Mark Rypien Motorsports 19 Ford CLT
33 		CAR PHO ATL
1994 97 DAY
29 		CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 68th 81 [12]
1995 DAY
DNQ 		CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT
42 		DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL
18 		IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
DNQ 		CAR PHO
DNQ 		ATL 53rd 146 [13]
1996 Pontiac DAY
33 		CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
DNQ 		CLT
43 		DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL
DNQ 		IND GLN MCH
36 		CLT
22 		CAR PHO ATL
22 		44th 627 [14]
JTC Racing 45 Chevy SON
DNQ
Diamond Ridge Motorsports 29 Chevy BRI
23 		DAR
20 		RCH
40 		DOV
41 		MAR
DNQ 		NWS
1997 Mark Rypien Motorsports 97 Pontiac DAY
DNQ 		CAR
DNQ 		RCH
34 		ATL
19 		DAR
27 		TEX
26 		BRI
8 		MAR
42 		SON
DNQ 		TAL
34 		CLT
DNQ 		DOV
31 		POC
DNQ 		MCH
25 		CAL
19 		DAY
42 		NHA
30 		POC
28 		IND
42 		GLN
42 		36th 2081 [15]
Roush Racing MCH
42 		BRI
20 		DAR
11 		RCH
40 		NHA
28 		DOV
29 		MAR
35 		CLT
23 		TAL
40 		CAR
16 		PHO
25 		ATL
18
1998 Ford DAY
7 		CAR
21 		LVS
10 		ATL
DNQ 		DAR
17 		BRI
35 		TEX
2 		MAR
16 		TAL
34 		CAL
6 		CLT
35 		DOV
37 		RCH
13 		MCH
16 		POC
30 		SON
23 		NHA
22 		POC
16 		IND
28 		GLN
16 		MCH
10 		BRI
23 		NHA
14 		DAR
18 		RCH
12 		DOV
17 		MAR
36 		CLT
8 		TAL
8 		DAY
20 		PHO
20 		CAR
40 		ATL
11 		15th 3423 [16]
1999 DAY
9 		CAR
21 		LVS
14 		ATL
9 		DAR
28 		TEX
13 		BRI
24 		MAR
17 		TAL
42 		CAL
22 		RCH
35 		CLT
24 		DOV
28 		MCH
28 		POC
32 		SON
16 		DAY
29 		NHA
24 		POC
22 		IND
43 		GLN
14 		MCH
6 		BRI
30 		DAR
20 		RCH
42 		NHA
28 		DOV
7 		MAR
31 		CLT
18 		TAL
36 		CAR
21 		PHO
16 		HOM
39 		ATL
6 		23rd 3193 [17]
2000 DAY
23 		CAR
18 		LVS
19 		ATL
6 		DAR
15 		BRI
23 		TEX
13 		MAR
27 		TAL
25 		CAL
15 		RCH
39 		CLT
20 		DOV
20 		MCH
32 		POC
17 		SON
25 		DAY
16 		NHA
42 		POC
20 		IND
19 		GLN
12 		MCH
22 		BRI
30 		DAR
21 		RCH
29 		NHA
33 		DOV MAR CLT TAL
18 		CAR PHO HOM ATL 32nd 2634 [18]
2002 BACE Motorsports 74 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL
DNQ 		RCH CLT
DNQ 		DOV
33 		POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO HOM 77th 64 [19]
Daytona 500
[edit]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1989 Donlavey Racing Ford 28 36
1990 Little Racing Ford DNQ
1991 30 14
1992 Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 14 39
1993 Melling Racing Ford 17 24
1994 Mark Rypien Motorsports Ford 17 29
1995 DNQ
1996 Pontiac 30 33
1997 DNQ
1998 Roush Racing Ford 21 7
1999 26 9
2000 29 23

Busch Series

[edit]
NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 NBGNC Pts Ref
1992 Little Racing 37 Olds DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN
29 		VOL NHA TAL IRP ROU MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR HCY 120th 76 [20]
1993 Mark Rypien Motorsports 23 Ford DAY CAR RCH DAR
33 		BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT
7 		DOV
2 		MYB GLN MLW TAL
29 		IRP
37 		MCH
33 		NHA
37 		BRI
22 		DAR
3 		RCH DOV ROU CLT
14 		MAR CAR
41 		HCY ATL
23 		32nd 1171 [21]
1994 DAY
3 		CAR
15 		RCH
22 		ATL
14 		MAR
27 		DAR
18 		HCY
22 		BRI
24 		ROU
15 		NHA
5 		NZH
11 		CLT
34 		DOV
17 		MYB
5 		GLN
8 		MLW
7 		SBO
5 		TAL
6 		HCY
8 		IRP
5 		MCH
2 		BRI
12 		DAR
5 		RCH
14 		DOV
15 		CLT
4 		MAR
5 		CAR
5 		3rd 3662 [22]
1995 DAY
1 		CAR
1* 		RCH
32 		ATL
29* 		NSV
2 		DAR
4 		BRI
3 		HCY
23* 		NHA
1 		NZH
19 		CLT
1 		DOV
9 		MYB
32 		GLN
2* 		MLW
8 		TAL
1 		SBO
1* 		IRP
20 		MCH
21 		BRI
4 		DAR
40 		RCH
16 		DOV
13 		CLT
34 		CAR
35 		HOM
26 		2nd 3284 [23]
1996 Pontiac DAY
19 		CAR
33 		RCH
20 		ATL
15 		NSV
15 		DAR
37 		BRI
12 		HCY
11 		NZH
11 		CLT
13 		DOV
29 		SBO
8 		MYB
16 		GLN
8 		MLW
21 		NHA
32 		TAL
21 		IRP
27 		MCH
11 		BRI
25 		DAR
12 		RCH
3 		DOV
9 		CLT
4 		CAR
10 		HOM
7 		5th 2984 [24]
1998 Roush Racing 9 Ford DAY CAR LVS NSV DAR BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR
30 		RCH DOV CLT GTY CAR ATL HOM 108th 73 [25]
2000 Innovative Motorsports 30 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX
DNQ 		NSV TAL
DNQ 		CAL
12 		RCH
DNQ 		NHA CLT
31 		DOV
DNQ 		SBO MYB GLN MLW NZH PPR GTY IRP 66th 398 [26]
PPI Motorsports 97 Ford MCH
10 		BRI DAR RCH DOV
BACE Motorsports 74 Chevy CLT
DNQ 		CAR
32 		MEM PHO HOM
DNQ
2001 DAY
9 		CAR
15 		LVS
16 		ATL
15 		DAR
24 		BRI
12 		TEX
31 		NSH
27 		TAL
11 		CAL
18 		RCH
20 		NHA
14 		NZH
20 		CLT
21 		DOV
11 		KEN
6 		MLW
20 		GLN
16 		CHI
17 		GTY
13 		PPR
16 		IRP
3 		MCH
16 		BRI
9 		DAR
13 		RCH
6 		DOV
4 		KAN
36 		CLT
17 		MEM
16 		PHO
13 		CAR
17 		HOM
27 		9th 3846 [27]
2002 DAY
14 		CAR
24 		LVS
21 		DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL CAR PHO HOM 69th 312 [28]

SuperTruck Series

[edit]
NASCAR SuperTruck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 NSTSC Pts Ref
1995 RPM Racing 11 Ford PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH
32 		MAR
DNQ 		NWS
DNQ 		SON MMR PHO 69th 162 [29]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chad Little

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Chad Little (born April 29, 1963) is an American former professional driver and executive, best known for competing full-time in the from 1997 to 2001 and achieving a runner-up finish in the 1995 Series points standings, while currently serving as 's Managing Director, Events and Officiating. Born in Spokane, Washington, Little pursued higher education alongside his early endeavors, earning a in from in 1985 and a degree from in 1988. He initially worked as a but began his career in 1979 on local short tracks, securing street stock class championships in the Spokane area in 1981 and 1982. Transitioning to regional series, Little earned NASCAR Winston West Rookie of the Year honors in 1986 and clinched the series championship in 1987 with five victories. Little made his NASCAR national series debut in the Cup Series at the 1986 Miller American 400, competing part-time until going full-time in 1997 with teams including Donlavey Racing and later Roush Racing, where he drove the No. 97 Ford sponsored by from 1998 to 2001. Over 217 Cup starts spanning 1986 to 2002, he recorded no wins but achieved one top-five finish—a second-place result at in 1998—and 16 top-10s, with his best season points finish of 15th coming that same year. His most successful national series tenure was in the Series (then Busch Series), where he made 134 starts from 1992 to 2002, securing six wins—all in 1995—along with 27 top-fives, 44 top-10s, and one , culminating in a championship runner-up performance that year. Little also made a single start in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1995. Following his driving retirement after three Xfinity and one Cup start in 2002, Little joined 's staff as an official in 2001, initially contributing to racing development efforts in , where he later served as director of racing development for the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series. He advanced through several leadership positions, including director of the Whelen Modified Tour, and managing director of the Camping World Truck Series starting in 2013. In February 2015, appointed him to his current role as Managing Director, Events and Officiating, overseeing pit road procedures, race control, and competition standards across its national series.

Early life and education

Childhood and early interests

Chad Little was born Charles Glen Little Jr. on April 29, 1963, in Spokane, Washington, to Charles Glen "Chuck" Little Sr., a prominent local racer, and his wife Terry. The Little family had longstanding ties to the Spokane region, where Chuck Little competed extensively in stock car events across the Northwest during the and , including at local venues like State Line Speedway, which the family later owned. Growing up in Spokane, Little developed a keen interest in automobiles and motorsports from an early age, largely influenced by observing his father's races at regional tracks such as Spokane County Speedway and other short ovals in Washington state. This exposure to the vibrant local racing scene, characterized by community-driven events and the roar of stock cars, ignited his passion for the thrill of speed and mechanical engineering. Little's first hands-on involvement with racing came in 1979, when he began competing in amateur stock car races at short tracks around Washington, securing street stock class championships in the Spokane area in 1981 and 1982. These initial experiences were motivated by a desire to emulate his father's success and participate in the tight-knit racing community, providing both personal excitement and social connections without any formal training. By the mid-1980s, he had progressed to more structured short-track competitions, laying the groundwork for his professional pursuits.

Formal education and pre-racing career

Chad Little enrolled at , where he earned a degree in from the of Business in 1985. Following his undergraduate studies, Little pursued legal education at in Spokane, Washington, graduating with a degree in 1988. Little obtained his but chose not to pursue a full-time legal career, instead focusing on , though he may have briefly engaged in legal work. By 1986, during his time in , he had begun transitioning toward a full-time commitment to , balancing academic demands with preparations for competitive events. This pivot provided him with the flexibility to pursue motorsports professionally without the constraints of a traditional legal career.

Professional racing career

Winston West Series debut

Chad Little entered professional with his debut in the Winston West Series in 1986, at the age of 23, driving a for owner in the season-opening AC-Delco 300 at . Starting 10th on the road course, he adapted quickly to the national-level competition, completing all 74 laps to finish fifth and earning early notice in a field dominated by veterans. Over the course of the eight-race schedule, Little competed in select events with sponsorship from Northland and Western Truck Brokers, showcasing consistency with five top-five finishes and six top-10s while completing 1,434 laps. His rookie campaign peaked with a breakthrough victory at Evergreen Speedway in , during the Peterbilt Winston Washington 500, where he started 11th, led 131 laps, and outdueled NASCAR stars and in a 500-lap battle marked by eight lead changes in the final 252 laps. This win, achieved at a record average speed of 82.386 mph on the five-eighths-mile , served as a pivotal turning point, propelling Little to second place in the final points standings and securing Winston West Series Rookie of the Year honors despite limited resources. As a newcomer, he faced significant challenges, including funding constraints that left his small team without major sponsorship, forcing reliance on family involvement—such as his father Chuck Little as crew chief—and regional support to cover mechanical and travel costs. Building on this momentum, Little rapidly progressed in 1987, driving the same setup to capture the Winston West Series championship in his sophomore season, with two victories, six top-five finishes, and 211 laps led across eight races. Key successes included a win at Portland Speedway and another at Tacoma Speedway, culminating in the title-clinching third-place finish at Evergreen Speedway, where he overcame an early setback to solidify his dominance. These achievements, achieved through affiliation with Jefferson's modest operation, established Little's reputation for skillful driving and perseverance, paving the way for opportunities on the national stage while he balanced the demands of his legal education at .

Busch Grand National Series

Chad Little made his Busch Grand National Series debut in 1992 with a single start at Watkins Glen International, finishing 29th in the No. 37 Oldsmobile. In 1993, Little ran 12 races, earning 3 top-10s and finishing 22nd in points. He went full-time in 1994 with PPC Racing in the No. 23 Ford, completing all 28 races with 10 top-5s, 14 top-10s, and placing 6th in the standings. Little's career peaked in 1995 with ppc Racing in the No. 23 Bayer-sponsored Ford, where he captured six victories and finished second in the championship standings with 3,284 points, just 404 behind champion Johnny Benson Jr. His wins came at Daytona International Speedway (Goody's 300 on February 18, starting 42nd and leading the final 27 laps after a late caution), Rockingham Speedway (Goodwrench 200 on February 25, dominating with superior handling on the high-banked oval), New Hampshire International Speedway (Chevy 250 on May 13, seizing the lead on a lap-173 restart and holding off Mike McLaughlin), Charlotte Motor Speedway (Red Dog 300 on May 27, fending off Jeff Green in the closing laps through aggressive short-pit strategy), Talladega Superspeedway (Slick 50 300 on July 22, shortened to 117 laps by rain but leveraging draft alliances for the victory), and South Boston Speedway (Ford Credit 300 on July 29, recovering from an early lap-58 crash with lapped traffic by pitting for fresh tires and reclaiming the lead on lap 231). These triumphs highlighted Little's versatility across superspeedways, short tracks, and intermediates, often relying on crew chief decisions for tire management and restart positioning to overcome handling issues in his Ford setup. His season included 13 top-10s, underscoring a fierce rivalry with Benson, who edged him in points despite Little's win total. Following his banner year, Little maintained strong form in , finishing fifth in points with 2,984 despite no wins, thanks to nine top-5s and consistent top-10 runs amid increased competition from manufacturers like Chevrolet and Pontiac. In 1997, Little focused on his full-time Winston schedule with no Busch participation. After parting with PPC Racing post-1996, Little joined Roush Racing in 1998 for full-time while making 1 Busch start that year, including a sixth-place finish at . Released by Roush after 2000, he returned to full-time Busch in 2001 with BACE Motorsports in the No. 74 Chevrolet (33 starts, 6 top-10s, 17th in points), before sporadic starts in 2002. His Busch successes, particularly the runner-up points finish, provided visibility and funding that supported his full-time Winston transition in 1997 with Greg Pollex Racing in the No. 97 Pontiac. Over 134 starts from 1992 to 2002, Little secured six wins—all in —along with 27 top-fives, 44 top-10s, and one .

Winston Cup Series

Chad Little made his debut in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1986, competing in two races aboard the No. 28 Ford owned by , with his best result a 13th-place finish at . Over the following years, he made sporadic starts, gradually increasing his participation to 62 races between 1986 and 1991, often with underfunded teams including his father's Chuck Little operation in 1991, where he contested 28 events but struggled with equipment limitations that confined him to back-of-the-pack results. His success in the Busch Series provided the momentum to pursue more opportunities at NASCAR's highest level. Little's involvement fluctuated in the early , with 19 starts in across multiple teams and only sporadic appearances thereafter—such as nine races in 1996 for Greg Pollex's Sterling Cowboy Racing—due to persistent funding challenges that hampered consistent entry. By 1997, he secured a near-full schedule of 27 starts in the No. 97 Pontiac for Pollex, achieving consistent mid-pack finishes averaging 28.7 but facing mechanical issues and underpowered equipment typical of smaller outfits. The 1998 season represented a breakthrough when Little joined Roush Racing full-time in the No. 97 John Deere-sponsored Ford, completing 32 races and earning a career-high 15th in the points standings with 3,287 points. That year, he notched seven top-10 finishes, including a career-best second place at the Texas 500, and one top-five result, demonstrating improved reliability and strategy in a more competitive environment despite occasional handling woes on intermediate tracks. In 1999, continuing with Roush, Little ran all 34 events, securing five top-10s and an average finish of 23.4, though points slipped to 23rd (3,068) amid tighter fields and minor setup adjustments needed for the evolving chassis. Little's final full-time Winston Cup effort came in 2000 with 27 starts for Roush, yielding one top-10 and a 32nd-place points finish (2,669 points), as sponsorship pressures and team priorities shifted, leading to his release late in the season. Over his 217 Winston Cup starts from 1986 to 2002, Little recorded no wins, one top-five, 16 top-10s, and no poles, with his longevity reflecting tactical acumen in qualifying and race management despite often operating on shoestring budgets early on.

Craftsman Truck Series participation

Chad Little made a single appearance in the during its inaugural 1995 season. Driving the No. 11 Ford for the Itco Tires team owned by Mike Hurlbert, Little debuted in the Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout at Richmond International Raceway on September 30, 1995. He qualified 26th and ran competitively early on, but retired after completing 125 of 200 laps due to a transmission failure, resulting in a 32nd-place finish out of 33 trucks. Little did not lead any laps and earned $1,400 in prize money. This lone start marked the extent of Little's on-track participation in the series, which served as a developmental platform amid his established career in the Winston Cup and Busch Series.

Later driving years and retirement

Final competitive seasons

In , Chad Little competed in a full schedule of 33 races in the Busch Series for BACE Motorsports, driving the No. 74 Chevrolet sponsored by Staff America. He achieved two top-five finishes, including a third-place result at the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and six top-10s, ultimately placing ninth in the final points standings with 3,858 points. His Winston Cup Series participation that year was limited to a partial schedule with Roush Racing in the No. 97 Ford, running events up to the 300 at International Speedway in September before being replaced by ; he returned for one additional start at the 500 at in October. Results in the top series were outside the top 20, reflecting challenges with team transitions and sponsorship stability. The 2002 season marked Little's final year of active competition, with drastically reduced activity across NASCAR's national series amid ongoing funding constraints for smaller teams like BACE Motorsports. In the Winston Cup Series, he attempted three races in the No. 74 Chevrolet but qualified only for the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover, where he started 36th and finished 33rd after completing 395 of 400 laps. He failed to qualify for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and the at . Little's Busch Grand National efforts were confined to three starts in the No. 74, yielding a best finish of 14th at the season-opening EAS GNC Live Well 300 at and an average finish of 19.7, with no top-10 results. Little also made three cameo appearances in the Craftsman Truck Series that year, accumulating 312 points to finish 69th in the driver standings. Across all three series, his total participation fell under 10 races, underscoring the winding down of his driving career. Key among the season's developments was Little's announcement in late that he would not continue with BACE Motorsports into 2003 and would step away from full-time driving, citing the unsustainable challenges of maintaining viability as a driver for a small, underfunded operation.

Retirement from driving

Chad Little officially retired from competitive driving in mid-2002 following a limited schedule that included three starts in the Busch Series and one in the Winston Cup Series, marked by failed qualification attempts for prominent events such as the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway and the at . These struggles, coupled with ongoing sponsor instability at BACE Motorsports—where Little drove the No. 74 Chevrolet—highlighted the mounting financial and competitive pressures that made sustaining a full-time ride untenable in an increasingly resource-intensive sport. The abrupt scaling back of BACE's operations after Little's early-season Busch outings at Daytona, Rockingham, and , followed by his lone appearance at Dover International Speedway on June 2—where he finished 33rd—signaled the end of his driving career, as no further opportunities materialized amid the team's budgetary constraints. At age 39, Little cited the high costs of racing and the need for greater long-term security as key factors in his decision, reflecting a shift toward roles offering more predictable involvement in the sport he loved. In the immediate aftermath, Little transitioned into part-time broadcasting, serving as a studio analyst for Speed Channel. This short-lived venture allowed him to remain connected to without the physical and financial demands of competition, bridging his driving days to broader administrative pursuits.

Post-driving career and personal life

NASCAR administrative roles

Chad Little joined in 2002 as an official following his from competitive driving, bringing his on-track experience to various roles within the organization's competition department. Over the next several years, he progressed through positions focused on series management and development, including serving as director of racing development for the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series starting in 2005, where he contributed to establishing grassroots initiatives in the region. In February 2008, Little was appointed director of the , overseeing operations and growth for the open-wheel series during a period that saw increased event scheduling and participation. In December 2012, NASCAR announced Little's promotion to managing director of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series effective for the 2013 season, a role in which he emphasized educational programs for officials and drivers to enhance safety and compliance. Under his leadership, the series implemented format changes, such as the inaugural dirt track event at , which boosted fan engagement and diversified racing surfaces. Little's background as a driver informed his approach, allowing him to address controversies like equipment inspections with practical insights into racer perspectives. On February 2, 2015, elevated Little to Managing Director for Technical and Officiating, where he provided oversight for compliance and rules enforcement across all three national series (, , and ). In this capacity, he spearheaded technological advancements, including the introduction of real-time video for pit road penalties, paperless mobile applications, and laser-guided measuring systems to improve accuracy and transparency in officiating. These innovations addressed ongoing controversies over consistency, enabling teams to infractions immediately and reducing disputes during races.

Family and personal background

Chad Little, a native of Spokane, Washington, built much of his early family life in the , where he pursued both education and racing roots alongside his loved ones. He earned a law degree from in 1988 while establishing a household there with his wife, Donna, and their two children, son Jesse and daughter Haley. The family's ties to Spokane remained strong, influenced by Little's father, Chuck Little, who managed the local Stateline Speedway and instilled a multi-generational passion for . Following his full-time retirement from competitive driving in 2002, Little and his family relocated from Spokane to near , to be closer to NASCAR's operational hub in the region, allowing greater focus on family amid his post-driving endeavors. This move supported Jesse's burgeoning racing career, as the younger Little began competing in developmental series while attending high school in . Jesse followed in his father's footsteps by entering the ARCA Racing Series in 2018 with JJL Motorsports and later racing in the Camping World Truck Series from 2015 to 2019 for a team co-owned by Chad, Jesse, and Chad's brother Jason, achieving starts across 34 events and mirroring the family's racing legacy in a modern context. Little's personal commitments extended to community efforts in Washington, where he supported youth racing programs through his involvement in local short-track initiatives and family mentorship, fostering the next generation's interest in motorsports. His retirement from the track enabled deeper engagement with family life, including guiding Jesse's transition into professional racing without overshadowing his own achievements. The Little family's story underscores a legacy of balancing personal bonds with racing heritage, centered in Spokane's racing community even after their relocation.

NASCAR career statistics

Winston Cup Series results

Chad Little's Winston Cup Series career spanned from to 2002, during which he made 217 starts without securing a victory or . He recorded one top-5 finish and 16 top-10 finishes, with a career average finish of 24.1 and an average starting position of 28.1. His best career result was a 2nd-place finish in the 1998 Texas 500 at . Little's performance varied by season, with his strongest year coming in when he ran a full schedule for Roush Racing in the No. 97 Ford, earning 7 top-10 finishes and placing 15th in the final points standings—his career-best points position. The following year, 1999, he again competed in all 34 races, achieving 5 top-10s but slipping to 23rd in points amid competitive challenges in the expanded field. In 2000, limited to 27 starts due to team adjustments at Roush, Little managed just 1 top-10 finish and ended 32nd in points, reflecting struggles with equipment reliability and typical of mid-tier operations. Earlier seasons saw sporadic participation, such as 28 starts in (1 top-10, 27th in points) and 27 starts in (1 top-10, 36th in points), highlighting his role as a consistent qualifier rather than a frontrunner.
YearStartsTop 5sTop 10sPoints Position
198620070th
198720060th
198840045th
198980038th
1990180033rd
1991280127th
1992190131st
199330051st
199410068th
199520053rd
199690044th
1997270136th
1998321715th
1999340523rd
2000270132nd
200210077th
Little recorded multiple top-10 results across his 10 starts at , including 8th in the 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500. His consistency at the 1.5-mile oval underscored his adaptability to intermediate tracks, with an finish of approximately 18th at the venue—better than his career mark. Compared to contemporaries in mid-tier teams like or Derrike Cope during the late , Little emphasized steady point accumulation over high-risk strategies for wins, often finishing in the top 25 despite resource limitations; for instance, his 15th-place points in 1998 placed him ahead of several full-time drivers from similar outfits. This approach yielded 51% of his top-10s in his peak years (1998–1999), establishing him as a reliable mid-pack performer in an era dominated by top-tier organizations.

Busch Grand National Series results

Chad Little's career in the Busch Grand National Series spanned from to , during which he made 134 starts, achieved 6 wins, recorded 27 top-5 finishes, and earned 44 top-10 finishes. He captured 1 and led a total of 1,155 laps, posting an average starting position of 20.0 and an average finishing position of 16.0. His strongest season came in 1995, when he finished second in the points standings with a career-high 6 victories. Little's 6 wins all occurred in 1995, driving the No. 23 Ford for Bayer Racing. These victories were at the following events: the Goody's 300 at on February 18 (leading 3 laps); the Goodwrench 200 at Speedway in Rockingham on February 25 (leading 177 laps); the NE Chevy Dealers 250 at International Speedway in Loudon on May 13; the Red Dog 300 at on May 27; the Humminbird Fishfinder 500K at on July 29; and the Ford Credit 300 at on August 5. His single pole came at the 1996 AC-Delco 200 at on February 24. The table below summarizes Little's performance by season, focusing on his peak years in the mid-1990s when he established himself as a contender.
YearStartsWinsTop 5sTop 10sPolesPoints Position
199210000120
199312023032
1994280101403
1995266111302
19962602715
199810000108
20004001066
20013302609
20023000069
In 1994, Little's debut full season, he notched 10 top-5 finishes and 14 top-10s en route to third in points, laying the foundation for his breakthrough. His consistent mid-1990s results, including runner-up points in , bolstered his opportunities in the Winston Cup Series. Later seasons saw reduced participation as he prioritized Cup racing, with his final full campaign in 2001 yielding a ninth-place points finish.

Craftsman Truck Series results

Chad Little made a single appearance in the , marking a brief foray into the series during its inaugural season. His lone start came on , 1995, at the Fas Mart SuperTruck Shootout presented by GM Goodwrench at Mesa Marin Raceway in , driving the No. 11 Chevrolet for . Starting 26th in the 36-truck field, Little completed 125 of 200 laps before retiring due to transmission failure, finishing 32nd and earning $1,400. Over his minimal Truck Series career, Little recorded no wins, top 5s, top 10s, or poles, with an average starting position of 26.0 and an average finish of 32.0; he led zero laps across 125 total laps completed and finished the season 69th in points. This outing highlighted his supplementary involvement in NASCAR's developmental series amid a primary focus on the Winston Cup and Busch circuits.

References

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