By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications
You really can’t blame Todd Stewart for being anxious. The 39 year-old father of 2 from Bath, Ontario is looking forward to getting back into action at his Saturday night racing stop, Brockville Ontario Speedway. 2008 was the season Stewart had been waiting for. His #72 TEO Pro Car team finished 3rd in points with 1 win, 6 top 5’s and 10 top 10 runs.
“We’re happy with the way things ended-up – especially since there were so many unknowns at the start of the year,” says Stewart. “The switch to the TEO car meant we began the season with an empty notebook. The car was fast right out of the box and felt great in a variety of different track conditions. Its something we should have done a long time ago.”
With Brockville’s 2009 season opener just days away, Stewart is ready to head back to the scene of the crime. The crew hauled to Merrittville Speedway for the small block tour stop Saturday, April 25th but that event was postponed by rain. There were also a couple of shakedown sessions at Can Am that allowed the veteran runner, who is entering his 20th year of competition to get some seat-time. With those shows under his belt, its time for the RAAL Motorsports team to do some serious racing.
“We’ll be using the same TEO Pro Car machine as we ran in 2008,” Stewart says. “The car was re-skinned during the off season and I think we’re set to go. We’ll be running Brockville all season, but we’re also talking about racing occasional Friday nights – possibly at Mohawk. Obviously, I want to do as well as last year – but I try not to set too many goals before the start of the year. The competition at Brockville is strong and everyone has a shot to win,” he continued. “If things go well, we’ll likely follow the small block Super DIRTcar Series, but so much will depend on what we do at our regular stops. If you’re running well at your home track, its easy to build-up your confidence. That’s something you really need if you’re going to run the tour. So many of those guys are full-time racers, so you need to have every advantage you can get.”
For 2009, Todd Stewart’s #72 TEO Pro Car is supported by Re/Max Sales Representative Penny Blake, RW Electric, Red Line Oil, McCoy Bus Service and Tours, OSSO Electric Supplies, Fort Glass, M.A, Barr Service Station Maintenance, Stewart Speed Supply and Kwik Kopy Print & Design Centre. Follow the team’s progress throughout the season at www.toddstewart72.com, a Finish Line web design site.
Todd Stewart is looking forward to the start of the season and once again finding a comfortable place to race.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
Todd Stewart’s #72 TEO Pro Car modified shows-off its 2009 colours in the pits at Can Am Speedway in Lafargeville, New York.
