TRENTON, Ont. (April 19, 2016) – The 2016 racing season will mark a new adventure for Courtney Mastin as she sets out on her rookie season in a DIRT Sportsman Modified. The Trenton, Ont. native will call Can-Am Speedway in Lafargeville, NY home on Saturday nights as she competes in the Novice Sportsman class for the first time.
“I’m most excited about trying out a new track and meeting new people. I’m also very excited to drive a purpose built race car,” said Mastin, a 19 year-old Early Childhood Education student at Loyalist College in Belleville. “The transition from front wheel racing to rear wheel racing is going to be quite tough.”
Mastin piloted a Honda Civic in Brighton Speedway’s four-cylinder division for the previous four seasons. Following a top-five points finish in 2014, the team wanted to make the transition to a rear-wheel drive, purpose-built racecar for 2016. As a result, the team sold their four-cylinder car part way through the 2015 schedule when the opportunity arose.
“The Sportsman gave us the chance to do it in a Novice class with a bunch of people who are learning,” said Kevin Mastin, Courtney’s father and crew chief. “It definitely makes us feel more comfortable, but it’s still a little scary. It’s a big step.”
“It’s going to be like starting from day one all over again,” added Courtney.
The Mastin team has no expectation to finish at the front as they learn the specifics of their new car. The goal is to gain experience as a group and become more comfortable with their new toy in a new sandbox.
“This year is going to be a learning year. We’re going to try and figure out the car, for me and for her. Trying to bring it home in one piece is going to be the biggest goal,” explained Kevin.
Brighton Speedway driver Dan Ferguson piloted the new car during a handful of late-season races in 2015 to give the Mastin group feedback on their new car after it was acquired from Ryan Ferri. Courtney had her first chance behind the wheel in a practice session at Brighton last fall. Ferguson will act as a mentor for Courtney in her rookie Sportsman season.
The team will also attend the Billy Dunn driving school at Can-Am on April 23 in order to gain help and setup advice from the Modified veteran.
“This is all new to us, so with everything we do, our goal is to learn from our mistakes and hopefully we’ll improve each week,” said Courtney.
Both Courtney and Kevin know they will face adversity this season, but the goal is to have fun with the learning process.
“My goals for this year are the same as years past: I want to continue to improve and move forward as best as we can as a team,” said Courtney.
Follow Courtney Mastin’s rookie Sportsman season on Facebook at facebook.com/MastinRacing and on Twitter at @Mastin_Racing97.
Mastin Racing’s 2016 season is supported by the following corporate sponsors: DW Metal Expressions, Weese Precision Machining, Grosse Construction, Wilkinson Financial Services and The Vinyl Solution.
Media Contact: Clayton Johns Media
Photo Attachment: Courtney Mastin will drive her No.97 Sportsman Modified in the Novice Sportsman division at Lafargeville, NY’s Can-Am Motorsports Park on Saturday nights in 2016. Mastin Racing photo.
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