March 1, 2024

DAMIEN CHINN - RENEGADE RACEWAY

Damien Chinn started drag racing in 2016 with a 302 powered 1974 Mustang II that my dad and I built. Before the start of the 2017 racing season, we swapped the 302 for a stock 460 Ford. Damien won back to back High School championships at Renegade Raceway in 2017 and 2018. He was the Division 6 High School Champion in 2018 at the Summit ET Finals at Firebird Raceway in Idaho racing for Team Renegade.

Chinn’s first perfect light medal came in 2018. In 2020, his last year in the Mustang II, Chinn placed 3rd in the Pro ET bracket class at Renegade Raceway and made Race of Champions for Team Renegade, also in Pro bracket. In 2023, Damien raced for Team Qlispe at the Summit ET Finals in a 2007 Mustang.

When not racing or volunteering my time helping at Qlispe Raceway, Chinn is busy building a 414 Cleveland powered dragster that he plans to race in 2024.

“I like to waterski, camp, and visit the beach,” Chinn wrote in an email.

 Wins and awards:

• Jr Street Champion 2016 Renegade Raceway
• High School Champion 2017 Renegade Raceway
• High School Champion 2018 Renegade Raceway
• 2018 Summit ET Finals Division 6 High School Champion
• Best Appearing Crew 2018 Renegade Raceway
• NoBox Top 5 2019 Renegade Raceway

Sponsors:

• Warhammer Motorsports, Yakima
• Ron’s Coin & Collectibles, Yakima
• Fruitvale Tire Center, Yakima
• Yakima Crossfit, Yakima
• Terri Couette, Allstate Insurance, Yakima
• Monster Graphics, Yakima

Damien Cinn's Mustang II. Photo Courtesy of Damien Chinn.

JUNIOR CHINN - RENEGADE RACEWAY

Junior Chinn started drag racing in 2019 on a 1992 Yamaha VMax. “My first perfect light shined for me that same year,” Chinn wrote in an email.

In 2021 he began driving a 460 Ford powered 1974 Mustang II that his son raced from 2016-2020.

Chinn was busy racing two classes, both four and two wheels. “I made Summit ET Finals for Team Renegade in 2021 with the Mustang II and 2022 with both the Mustang II and my Kawasaki powered drag bike.”

In 2023 he raced for Team Qlispe at the Summit ET Finals on a 2007 Yamaha ZX14 drag bike in his first Race of Champions. He was one of eight nominees in 2023 for “This Is Bracket Racing Elite MVP Driver of the Year.”

When not racing, Junior can be found me working on his race vehicles and equipment. “I like to play darts, the drums, and dig for razor clams,” he added.

Wins And Awards:

• NoBox Top 5 2019 Renegade Raceway
• Street Legal Bike Top 5 2019 Renegade Raceway
• NoBox 2nd place 2021 Renegade Raceway
• Most Improved Driver 2021 Renegade Raceway
• Street Legal Bike 2nd place 2020, 2021, & 2022 Renegade Raceway
• Street Legal Bike Champion 2023 Renegade Raceway

Sponsors:

• Ron’s Coin & Collectibles, Yakima
• Fruitvale Tire Center, Yakima
• HF Hauff Co, Inc., Union Gap
• Terri Couette, Allstate Insurance, Yakima
• Monster Graphics, Yakima

Junior Chinn's racing bike. Photo courtesy of Junior Chinn.

TITLE INCORRECT

Due to a reporting error, the title of Qlispe Raceway Park’s Ben Zimmerman was incorrect in the Feb. 15 edition of this column.  He is the operations manager, not general manager.