"Racin" Jason Rochelle
Car: #17R, Legends 1934 Ford Sedan
RMR Motorsports
Birth date: June 4, 1969
Hometown: Hackettstown, NJ
Resides: Schnecksville PA
Wife: Tara
Daughter: Morgan
Years racing: 23
Occupation: Construction
Jason grew up around racing watching and cheering on his dad Paul “Sandy” Rochelle who had a successful career chauffeuring dirt modifieds and URC Sprints in the New Jersey, New York and PA speedways during the 70’s and 80’s.
Jason fired up his own racing career at the age of 14 in 1983 at the go-karting, Shellhammers Speedway, dirt oval in Pennsylvania. He found the low riding racers to his liking and met with success and a kart championship while competing there.
The second-generation driver then graduated into midget and sportsman modified ranks, before finding his way to the INEX legends car series. Driving legends, Jason joined his brothers, Craig and Paul to start an intense family racing competition that continues today!
In June of 2000 Jason began driving the 17R for Ralph and Renie Rehrig of RMR Motorsports of Harleysville PA. Jason was an experienced legend car pilot, running both asphalt and dirt tracks. In May 2001 the team traveled to the Dirt Track at Charlotte and Jason finished 2nd before a huge crowd of 30,000 dirt fans.
Year 2002 saw the team concentrate on the Wall Township Speedway legend car point championship. It was extremely difficult to win the championship, with Craig and Paul Rochelle finishing only a few points behind in 2nd and 3rd place! Jason and the team worked together as never before and were rewarded at the end of the season. Jason will forever consider Wall to be his home track, in his native state of New Jersey. Jason says, it’s a great place to race, fast, fun and exciting for the fans to watch.
In 2003 the team began racing very early indoors, first at Fort Wayne IN, then at Atlantic City NJ. Jason increased his experience and versatility on both asphalt and dirt tracks winning his first dirt Legend car feature at Susquehanna Speedway in April. In October the RMR team traveled to the INEX dirt nationals in Joplin, MO with Ronnie Dunstan piloting the number 7R. The teammates finished 3rd and 4th!
In 2004 with increasing experience, confidence and the willingness to try new ideas Jason was able to capture seven feature wins and the Keystone Legends series championship. He also returned to Wall Township Speedway and won the prestigious Turkey Derby Race for the second year in a row.
In 2005 Jason was able to continue his success by starting the season winning the first ever Legend Car Winter National Series held January in Lake City FL. In the 36 race season, Jason was able to take the checkered flag first fourteen times. He also captured the Keystone Legend Series Championship for the second year in a row and finished 2nd in the INEX Pro division for PA dirt series. To cap off the season Jason returned to Wall Township Speedway to win the Turkey Derby Race for an unprecedented third year in a row.
Photos of Jason through his racing career....
