Stan Wattles qualified for his initial Indy 500 in 1998 in a Riley-Scott chassis. His best finishe (10th) came in the first Texas race. He's an owner/driver like Eddie Cheever. Captured numerous SCCA Formula Atlantic races, including Valvoline national title at Mid-Ohio in 1994.

The Riley & Scott chassis, showed great potential but was is still essentially in the development stage in '98, with only two teams using it.

Wattles ran only three races in the 1996-97 IRL season, including the two '96 races with the turbocharged champ cars. His debut with the new equipment came with Metro Racing Systems, which he owns, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He took the brand new Riley & Scott chassis to an eighth-place finish, just two laps off the pace.

In 1986, Wattles participated in eight Skip Barber Racing School events, winning a Formula Ford race on May 18. He had three straight SCCA regional wins -- two at Watkins Glen and one at Summit Point. He finished fifth in the Escort 24 Hours at Mid-Ohio and 12th in World Cup Formula Ford Festival at Brand's Hatch, England.

In 1987, he made 10 starts and won SCCA national in Formula Ford July 19 at Watkins Glen. He finished second in a IMSA 24 Hour event at Watkins Glen and sixth in 3-hour event at Road Atlanta.

In 1988 he made 11 Formula Atlantic starts, winning SCCA national race June 19 at Watkins Glen and Sept. 5 at Moroso Motorsports Park. In 1989 he made 10 professional Toyota Atlantic starts with best finish of fourth May 29 at Lime Rock. In 1993 he won two SCCA regionals in Seattle in Formula 2000 series.

In 1994 he made nine starts in Formula Atlantic, winning six SCCA nationals. He also had eight poles in national competition and won Valvoline National Runoffs Championship at Mid-Ohio from the pole. In 1995 he ran in the Player's/Toyota Atlantic Championship with best finish of fifth at Miami.

In 1996 he competed in the IRL, starting eighth, leading two laps and finishing 13th after a Turn 2 collision with wall at Indy 200, driving for Leigh Miller Racing. In the 1996-97 IRL season he joined McCormack Motorsports for season opener at Loudon, his first IRL race since being injured at Phoenix. He qualified 20th, finished 16th after low fuel pressure sidelined him after 163 laps. He started 21st, finished 18th at Las Vegas 1996 when a Turn 4 accident ended his day on Lap 125.

On Jan. 23, 1997, he announced the formation of Metro Racing Systems IRL team, fielding a Riley & Scott chassis, with Aurora engine and Goodyear tires -- the first "all-American" IRL combination.