While many people treat their business as if it were a matter of life and death, 20-year-old Chase Mattioli does face such a prospect. The Pennsylvania native is completing his sophomore year at Fordham University, where he majored in business administration, but he is also vice president of Pocono-based Mattioli Racing. This means that Chase literally wears a lot of hats or helmets. He’s a student, aspiring racer (he’s a Rookie of the Year candidate in the ARCA series, akin to the AA Minor baseball league), and he’s responsible for a significant portion of his company’s (and Pocono’s) profits. Raceway, a multi-million dollar racing platform that hosts two Sprint Cup races with over 250,000 attendees.
This combination may be common for seasoned drivers and executives, but very unusual for a young man trying to support a growing business by hitting 200 mph racing corners on weekends. Here’s a look at Chase Mattioli and how he helps keep his racing business going:
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Even though you come from a NASCAR family, you seem to make many of the business decisions for your racing team. Do you like the business side of racing?
The business side of racing is not that different from the racing side, as the two are closely intertwined. In racing, speed has a price. Everything from good engines, tires, gasoline, testing time and everything else that we have to use in our car costs money. Therefore, I find it important to be actively involved in the business side, as success in it (such as getting a sponsor, finding a new trade deal, or expanding my own brand) will directly lead to better results on the track.
You have been in the family business since the age of seven. How was it and what was the most valuable experience you gained?
I had the opportunity to grow in my favorite sport, for which I am grateful every day. As a child, my grandfather sent me to work on the cleaning crew, and then every year as I got older, I got more and more responsibilities. At the age of 12, I managed our 30 corporate skyboxes, and then when I was 16, I started doing sponsorships and special promotions with my father, Joseph Mattioli III. I think all of these experiences were great individual lessons, but I think the best thing was that I was able to see the race track through the eyes of every employee; I was able to see how our janitors, ticket sellers, landscapers, caterers and even management saw the business. Knowing how everyone in your business feels is great because it allows you to connect with all of your employees and create a company culture where you can find ways to inspire them to work harder without just giving them a raise.
A family business in the sports and entertainment industry is a rarity these days. What is it like being in such a big business with cousins, brothers and parents?
It is very difficult to involve yourself in a business world in which you are mostly surrounded by family. Personally, I love my family more than anything, so being able to see them is great. The best thing about my family and our business is that we were able to make our business more like a family and keep our family from becoming a business. By that I mean that we can always act like a family and support each other no matter what, without letting our corporate personas or egos get in the way. Everyone is considered an important part of the mix and everyone is given equal respect. I think it was thanks to this characteristic that we were able to hold out in the world of sports.
What are some of the responsibilities you have to supervise with your racing team?
My job as a driver is to make sure the car is perfect for the race. This means I work with my crew chief, spotter and car owner and let them know what I need to move fast. In addition to the car, we have many great sponsors who support our team with their brands. We have to cultivate leads, create interest, and then deliver what we promised. Some days that might mean I have to play Pokemon with the kids, or sit and have tea with some moms, or if I’m lucky, I just need to talk about racing with some people.
Do you find working with sponsors a difficult task? What is the best experience so far?
Working with sponsors is never difficult. These people give me the support I need to fulfill my passion in life. So whenever they need me to do something, rest assured, it only takes one call. My favorite thing is to do charity events with my sponsors. I once had the opportunity to serve a charity breakfast in a racing suit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This charity means so much to me personally that I jump at every opportunity to contribute, and I especially love it when my sponsors support and encourage my participation.
If you had to choose business or racing for a long-term career, which would you choose and why?
Well, if it was a dream scenario, I would definitely choose racing. But really, if I could race until I was 30, that would be enough. One of the best advice I have ever been given was to do something radically new in your life every ten years or you will become callous. So who knows what I will do after the races. Most likely, I will look for other business opportunities related to sports, but I also hope that I can do something that has nothing to do with sports. Who knows, maybe one day you will see me with my own art gallery or restaurant. I never turn down an opportunity.
Do you have driving forces on which you model your business practices?
There are not many drivers that I focus on in my business practice, but the family is for sure. My grandfather has been successfully running his own business for about half a century. What I love about my grandfather is that he never let a business become something he doesn’t want and never let someone else control it. He remains involved in every detail of the business, looking into new ways to expand it, such as our new trackside solar plant.
What advice can you give to those who want to get into motorsport?
The motorsport business is like a circus business. You will find yourself constantly on the road, living in hotels or motorhomes and getting only two months of vacation a year. There are no real formulas or ground rules for success, just a group of people doing what works. So I think if you can handle the lifestyle, the only thing you need is motivation. Bill France, the founder, was a gas station mechanic from Florida. My grandfather was a dentist in Philadelphia. All that has made them successful is passion and determination, which is the only fuel you need in motorsport.
Are there issues with what you do that apply to any business start-up?
I think you must have a passion for what you do and I have been working and learning all aspects of this business since I was seven years old. I collected garbage, learned how to count tickets, sell sponsorships, work with people, write a business plan, and so on and so forth. The bottom line is that we are all part of a team, be it racing or Pocono Raceway, and we are literally and figuratively a family. We learned by doing as much as by reading, and I think that hands-on experience in any field is just as valuable as studying books these days. On the race track, I don’t have fear, but I’m not reckless, and I think that applies to the business side as well.
Jerry Milani
