P. J. Chesson

Peter Lawrence Chesson Jr. (born December 9, 1978 in Far Hills, New Jersey) is an American race car driver who most recently competed in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.

P. J. Chesson
P. J. Chesson at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007.
NationalityAmerican
Born (1978-12-09) December 9, 1978
Far Hills, New Jersey
Related toJames Chesson (brother) Timothy Chesson (brother) Elizabeth Chesson (sister)
IRL IndyCar Series
Years active2004-2007
TeamsRoth Racing
Hemelgarn Racing
Starts5
Best finish22nd in 2006
Previous series
2000–2003
2004–2005		World of Outlaws
Indy Pro Series

Chesson drove go-karts and motorbikes while growing up on a horse farm in Bedminster, New Jersey.[1]

Career
P. J. driving in IPS on the Streets of St. Petersburg in 2005

Chesson made his professional debut in sprint cars in 1998 and from 2000 to 2003 was a regular in the World of Outlaws winged sprint car series. In 2004 he suddenly decided to change his career path and drove in the IRL's Infiniti Pro Series winning three races and finishing fourth in series points despite missing three races. He was announced as the driver for Hemelgarn Racing's car in the IndyCar Series in 2006 with new backing from NBA star Carmelo Anthony. The partnership was dubbed "Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing". The deal was brokered through the IRL's new marketing partner, Simmons-Abramson Marketing, made up of rock legend Gene Simmons and entertainment industry vet Richard Abramson. Chesson started the first 4 races of the season, the last being the Indianapolis 500, where he and teammate Jeff Bucknum tangled on the second lap and finished in the last two positions. Chesson has numerous tattoos, including one of the 2006 Indianapolis 500 logo that he had applied in public at the Speedway during the final day of qualifying. Since the demise of his deal with Hemelgarn, Chesson did not return to the Indycar Series until the end of the 2007 season when, in another Simmons/Abramson brokered deal, Chesson was announced as the second driver for Roth Racing alongside team owner Marty Roth with both cars sponsored by fashion label Dussault Apparel. He made his 2007 debut at the final race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway and finished 19th after mechanical gremlins sidelined him for over 100 laps.

Racing record

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indy Pro Series
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2004 Mo Nunn Racing HMS PHX INDY KAN
8		 NSH
6		 MIL
2		 MIS
1		 KTY
1		 PPIR
1		 CHI
5		 FON
2		 TXS
5		 4th 317
2005 Genoa Racing HMS
11		 PHX
14		 STP
7		 INDY TXS IMS NSH MIL KTY PPIR SNM CHI WGL FON 17th 61

IndyCar
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
2006 Hemelgarn Racing HMS
12		 STP
17		 MOT
17		 INDY
33		 WGL TXS RIR KAN NSH MIL MIS KTY SNM CHI 22nd 54 [2]
2007 Roth Racing HMS STP MOT KAN INDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO MIS KTY SNM DET CHI
19		 29th 12 [3]

Indianapolis 500
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2006 Dallara Honda 20 33 Hemelgarn

References
  1. "Bedminster native Chesson to race in Indy 500 this Sunday", New Jersey Hills, May 24, 2006. Accessed March 28, 2022. "Bedminster Twp. – Growing up on a horse farm off Larger Cross Road, P.J. Chesson always had plenty of room to tear around on go-karts and motorbikes with his two younger brothers."
  2. "P. J. Chesson – 2006 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  3. "P. J. Chesson – 2007 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
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