RPW Exclusive: It’s Simply Amazing Just What The Checkered Flag Means For The Pierce Racing Family

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – EAGLE BRIDGE, NY – The checkered flag. It’s what every racer chases. It’s what all desire to hold. In the Pierce household, the checkered flag has taken on a whole new meaning this season.

For young Jaden Pierce, it means wheeling his go-kart around the track so he can hold it in victory lane just as his father did on several occasions. For Jaden’s brother Carter, it means doing everything he can to be just like his idol, Lebanon Valley’s maestro atop the flag stand, head starter Rodney Rescott.

Sitting back and watching is dad, former Lebanon Valley Speedway track champion Chad Pierce, who gave up the driver’s seat this past season to watch his boys chase their dreams.

The Pierce family has been rooted in racing for several decades. Chad’s father, Edmund ‘Peanut’ Pierce, is a Valley and New York State Stock Car Association Hall Of Famer, so with Grandpa and dad being as accomplished as they are, you’d think the boys have pressure to win as much as possible. That couldn’t be any further from the truth.

“Dad and Grandpa don’t put any pressure on me when we’re at the track,” Jaden said. “They just want me to do my best. I like that we are a racing family and can do this stuff together.”

Carter tried spending some time behind the wheel of a kart, but realized that his love for the races weren’t when he was strapped in. It was more that he was able to study the nuances of how Rodney controlled the racing action, just by waving the flags.

“I love going to the races so I can watch Rodney flag,” Carter said. “I really didn’t like the idea of getting into wrecks and love how Rodney does things. I’ve talked with him like a hundred times getting tips.”

Now, as stated before, dad decided to hang up his helmet and suit this year to devote more time to his family and helping the boys chase their dreams. It was a tough decision for Chad but one he was okay with, even if the kids weren’t.

“They’ve told me they miss seeing me out on the race track,” Chad said. “They were in denial and didn’t want me to stop, but I told them it will give me time to be with them and help further their careers.”

Those careers got a big boost the second weekend of October at Lebanon Valley Go-Kart Speedway’s annual Ironman event. During one of the three scheduled features in the Junior 1 division, Jaden was able to cross the line first, to the cheers of everyone in attendance…including all of his family and friends. Why didn’t Carter cheer for his brother? That’s because he was the one who threw the checkered flag as he crossed the finish line.

“It was totally awesome getting a win at the Ironman,” Jaden said. “Having him wave the checkered flag for me was even better.”

Carter loved it too, but had a premonition about that race all along.

“I am glad I got to do that for him,” he said. “It was crazy but I knew he was going to win. He ran really well.”

For dad, it was a perfect day.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario, honestly,” Chad said. “It was truly one of the coolest things I’ve been involved with in racing. I love seeing my boys do things like this, and have fun at it.”

That’s what dad wants the most for his sons…to have fun, and they are now that they’ve found their true loves with racing. They enjoy going to the track each week…not only to strap the helmet on or wave the flag, but to spend time with their friends, which will help them to build relationships they’ll have for years.

“I love being able to race like dad did,” Jaden said. “He was awesome out there, and now I get to do that with my friends in my kart. Racing is just awesome and I want to do it as much as I can.”

That is just about the same situation for Carter, who has a custom flag stand at his grandparents house so he can practice each time he’s there.

“Many of my friends tell me I’m getting pretty good with flagging and that makes me feel good,” he said. “I just love being the guy who gets to do it. I see how much fun Rodney has doing it, and I want to have that kind of fun for years.”

Longevity is what dad wants for both of his boys. Chad Pierce grew up in this sport watching his dad build a Hall of Fame career. He sat in victory lane with him on many occasions holding the coveted checkered flag, and knows exactly what he wants for his boys.

“I just hope they realize that their father is very proud of both of them,” he said. “I hope they know I’m so proud of what each brings to the sport and that they’ll get so much out of it. If they continue to work as hard as they do, I know they’ll get so much out of racing…not only success, but relationships they’ll cherish forever, just like I have.”

Chad Pierce stopped his own driving career because he wanted to watch his kids enjoy racing. He’s seen the sport as a fan, from the driver’s seat, and now through his boys eyes. They’ve done the same thing. They’ve watched dad win and held the checkered flag in victory lane for him. Now, they’re getting the opportunity to experience that first-hand.

It’s amazing how life can come full-circle, just because we want to hold that special flag that signifies winning. For the Pierce’s, I’d say they win every day.