Robb Surpasses Expectations - Daily Oklahoman

By Larry Lewis Tulsa Correspondent

TULSA - Imagine an eighth-grader getting a chance to play golf against Tiger Woods. Or basketball against Tim Duncan. How about auto racing and the likes of Nextel Cup stars Tony Stewart or Kasey Kahne?

That's what 13-year-old Trey Robb of Newcastle is getting a chance to do this weekend at the 20th annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Center.

Driving in the same qualifying races as former World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell and Kahne on Friday night, Robb perhaps exceeded expectations. Robb finished second to Swindell in a heat race and only missed qualifying for the night's A feature by one position.

That's better than Stewart, who crashed on the first lap of his heat race. Stewart was not injured after his car hit the wall and flipped end-over-end.

Robb, who was the youngest driver in any class to win an A feature last summer at historic State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, didn't go into the Chili Bowl happy to just compete.

He wants to make a mark. 

"I just want to beat all of them," Robb said.

An estimated 12,000 fans watched racing on Friday night. The Chili Bowl has become a top draw during the sport's offseason with top drivers from many racing circuits participating.

Robb became interested in becoming a driver while attending the Chili Bowl with his father, Perry Robb Jr., five years ago. Trey Robb had been around racing all of his life since his father was a multi-time champion driver at State Fair Speedway.

"As soon as I saw Trey's ability when he started driving, I realized he had a real shot at doing something special, so I decided to retire and be his crew chief," Perry Robb said.

Trey Robb has won at every level, starting in 2000 while racing in Kid Sprints at age 8.

As a 6-year-old, Robb was racing BMX bicycles. He was the national champion the next year.

Trey's temperament seems dreamlike -- polite, yet without any signs of jitters. When asked if he was nervous going into the Chili Bowl, he said, "Not really."

Perry Robb Jr. said: "When he sits in the lineup, he'll be yawning or almost dozing off. But when he pulls out onto the track, the focus is 100 percent."

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