After a decade of coming close, Jason Hathaway would like to win a championship in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series but it’s not something he can’t live without.
This is his 10th season on either the CASCAR Super Series or Pinty’s tour and Hathaway has won eight races during his tenure. He’s finished in the top-5 of the championship in each of the past three seasons, but has yet to seal the deal.
That’s his goal this season, but Hathaway simply wants to keep winning races above all else.
“It would mean a lot for me, my team and my family to win the championship,” Hathaway told Short Track Scene on Thursday night. “But honestly, I would be just as happy winning two or three more races and not winning the championship.
“I have the most fun when I’m winning and celebrating with everyone in Victory Lane. Maybe that’s easy for me to say that because I don’t have one, but it’s how I feel.”
Hathaway is coming off his best overall season last year, winning a career-high three races and finishing second to Scott Steckly in the standings. He credits the chemisty he’s developed with his team, with most of the crew staying intact for much of the past five seasons.
“It’s all the guys,” Steckly said. “Craig (Masters, crew chief) is a great leader. He never raises his voice and I think everyone responds well to his approach. I know that’s the case for me. He’s been working with me since 1999 and he’s the most dedicated guy I’ve ever met.
“So really, I think we’ve had a lot of success because we know each other so well. We’ve been able to improve together and we don’t have to constantly retrain people. I hope we can keep it going this year.”
With the same crew working on his No. 3 Chevrolet, Hathaway has been able to focus on the other aspects of his team. He strengthened relationships with sponsors like FastEddie Raceware, CHOKO Authentic and recently added a new partner in Raybestos Brakes.
All that remains now is for Hathaway to hit the track this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and posting the results.
“Like this weekend at Mosport, we have a car that can win if we finish,” Hathaway said. “We’re either finishing races and fighting for the win or having some bad luck. That was the case last year.
“All it’s going to take is for that luck to even out and everything else should take care of itself.”
