Street Car Takeover’s
Justin Keith and
Chase Lautenbach
are finding success even
amid the pandemic
BY CRAIG COOK
PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT ARNOLD
& KEVIN COX
JUSTIN KEITH AND
CHASE LAUTENBACH
ARE RIGHTFULLY PROUD
OF THE BRAND THEY’VE
GROWN FROM AN IDEA
SKETCHED OUT ON BAR
NAPKINS INTO A FULL-
FLEDGED SERIES OF RACES
AND MEETS FOR STREET
CAR ENTHUSIASTS.
When promoters Justin
Keith and Chase
Lautenbach first sat
down inside a Twin
Peaks restaurant in 2013
to discuss putting on an
event, they weren’t planning to take over the
racing world. But seven years later, with nearly
20 events across the country, Street Car Takeover
is living up to its moniker.
As the name implies, the duo planned to focus
on actual street cars. With many other promotions
showcasing full-blown race cars, they gathered
a large following in the small-tire world to
help grow their brand.
“There’s plenty of events out there with bracket
classes, or guys running their race cars,” Keith
says. “Chase and I decided to stick to street cars.
We are Street Car Takeover, and we’ve really capitalized
on creating our own audience. Once you
can create your own audience, you’re golden.”
It wasn’t always a guarantee that SCT would
grow as large as it has. It required a lot of faith in
the early stages, with both Keith and Lautenbach
leaving comfortable six-figure jobs to pursue their
passion for racing full-time.
“When we first started this deal, there were
times where we were literally selling sponsorship
packages to pay the rent on our houses,” says
Lautenbach. “To say that it was a struggle is putting
it lightly. Somehow, we were able to BS our
way through it enough that here we are. And
man, if that ain’t the American dream, I don’t
know what is.”
Perhaps most appealing to racers and fans alike
is the diversity of cars and classes at SCT, where
nearly everyone has a place to fit in. From low-
4-second small-tire cars to daily drivers, to roll
racing and no-prep nights, Keith and Lautenbach
have gone to great lengths to make everyone feel
included.
“We want a platform for that kid that’s 17-18
years old, maybe just getting into racing,” Keith
says. “And he may only run 12’s. We have a class
for him, and the payouts are good. That kid could
leave with two grand in his pocket. That will last
in his mind forever, and every time Street Car
Takeover comes around, he’ll be there.”
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