O’Brien Leads Way To ’09 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Opener At Can-Am
*Jim Clarke Photo Attachment // Weedsport, NY – April 13, 2009 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
With his latest bid for a first-ever overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship thwarted by inclement weather at Can-Am Motorsports Park on two occasions last season, the sun was shining on top title contender Danny O’Brien all winter as he locked up a new sponsorship package.
Now steering the Kendrick Racing no. 7star Global Warranty/Bicknell ride, the second-generation standout from Kingston, Ontario will get another chance to shrug off those distant demons when the 2009 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series gets underway at Can-Am on Saturday, April 18.
“Mr. DIRTcar and Can-Am are about the only two titles that have given me grief over the years,” figured O’Brien, 41, who owns 12 track titles in the DIRTcar 358-Modified ranks and stands sixth all-time with118 Small-Block feature wins. “At this point in my career I’m pretty much going out to win races, I’ve learned time and again what ever happens after that is out of my control.”
“Two times I led the points at Can-Am going into the last night and came up short. Last year rain took out two tour shows near home and that was the difference. I’ve got one of the best deals this year, just need some luck as anything can happen in this sport,” remarked O’Brien, who finished runner-up aboard the Kendrick Racing no. 55 mount in last April’s tour lid-lifter at Merrittville Speedway to set the stage for this year’s all-out series assault.
With reigning Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points king Pete Bicknell staying closer to home on Saturday to conduct the final day of the annual BRP Driving School & Chassis Seminar, O’Brien is the early season front-runner to capture the elusive overall crown. He’ll be after the $4,000 top prize that awaits the winner of the 27th tour opener, with a star-studded field of Small-Block stars set to challenge the best from the north country.
Can-Am pit gates are scheduled to open at 3:30 p.m., grandstand seating begins at 4 o’clock with racing starting at 6:00 p.m. Adult General Admission is $20, Students 10-14 yrs. are $5 each, while 9 and under are free (Canadian money at par). All members of the military can enter at half price with proper ID.
The Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series gets underway at Can-Am the same time many top Small-Block teams will start accumulating points at their weekly home tracks. In 2009, each driver must make six DIRTcar weekly event starts at a single track to earn maximum home track bonus points of 360, which will then be added to actual Series points after Labor Day to determine the newest champion.
Falling victim to rain twice last autumn, Can-Am leads off the 358-Modified Series in April for the first time ever. With 1000 Islands RV Centre and Stover Bus Lines also adorning a pair of 7star machines equipped with a potent Pat Morrison-prepared powerplants, O’Brien is hoping to make the most of it by matching his lone tour triumph scored at the LaFargeville, New York half-miler in September of 2007.
“I’ve always had just one car and one motor to try and make the best of things,” divulged O’Brien, who begins his 23rd season of Modified racing this month. “This is the first time I’ve started out with two complete cars and engines so I’m certainly excited to get the season going.”
“Never had a corporate partner like this before either, something which I’m really looking forward to seeing how the season will pan out. I know I’ll be at Merrittville the first three weeks, and after that Brockville will be the only full-time track. Then we’ll just pick and choose, try some set-ups at different places and have some fun this summer,” added O’Brien, whose older brother Pat O’Brien, a four-time Mr. DIRTcar 358 points champ, and younger brother Tim O’Brien are also slated to sign in Saturday at Can-Am.
Expected to join the O’Brien clan on opening day will be many of last year’s top traveling teams led by Chad Brachmann, Carey Terrance, Mark Smoke, Tommy Flannigan and ’07 Mr. DIRTcar Mario Clair. The list of leading newcomers is anchored by Mike Mahaney and Bobby Herrington, along with recent Sportsman graduates Mark D’Ilario, Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman and James Michael Friesen.
For additional information, please contact 358-Modified Series Director Gaston Salvas (450/655-5022 or 514/817-2270; e-mail gastonsalvas@hotmail.com) or DIRTcar NE Director Cory Reed (cell 315/224-9009) at the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours. In the meantime, log into the homepage at www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series as well as the entire circuit.
