At age 14, Chance Riley promoted the first Dave Riley Memorial Race. It’s steadily grown since then to one of the biggest events in IMCA hobby stock racing. The race’s inspiration comes from Chance’s father, the race’s namesake, who committed suicide when Chance was 12.
Chance grew up cheering his father on at local tracks. His father’s death left a huge void in Chance’s heart and that of his mother, Brenda. Understanding and coping with his loss was and is a long process.
“On Christmas 2021, while my mom and I were on the road to a Kansas City Chiefs game, I told her I wanted to run a memorial race for my dad,” Chance, of Sioux City, Iowa, said. “I wanted it to be a hobby stock special that brought together family and friends for a night of celebration of my dad’s life.”
He then convinced the promoter of what was last called Interstate Speedway to host the inaugural event. However, putting on a show was just one part Chance’s mission.
“I began to gather sponsors that wanted to donate money to commemorate my dad and bring awareness to suicide prevention.” Chance said.
The first year drew 101 cars. This year, now at Park Jefferson International Speedway, the Dave Riley Memorial Race attracted 149 cars, including 50 for the headlining hobby stocks. Ryan Fajman, of Albion, Nebraska, won the race and the $2,556 that came along with it.
“I’ve grown the purse every year for all of the divisions,” said Chance. “I made sure everyone who showed up went home with at least $56 [Dave Riley’s number], whether they qualified for the feature or not.”
The event also raised more than $5,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. But there were other signs that the Dave Riley Memorial Race was a success.
“Cardinals were singing outside our house early in the morning — signifying life, and that telling us Dave was there,” Chance said. “Nothing was more affirming than what happened during the Memorial — a rainbow was in the background of the track. Dad sent us good luck, happiness, love, and support.”
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
