ROSSMORE, Ont. – May 19, 2016 – It’s been an impressive start to the season for Justin Ramsay in Brighton Speedway Pro Stock competition. The defending track champion has a win and runner-up finish to his credit in two races so far. While he’s happy to have finished well, Ramsay is far from satisfied.
“The car hasn’t been the way I want it. I’m just working the bugs out of it after I changed a couple of things over the winter. I think I’m starting to figure it out,” Ramsay said.
Dubbed the “Rossmore Rocket”, the driver of the Empey Tire/KD Transmission No.03 proved he’s worthy of the nickname on opening night. Ramsay won both his heat race and the 20-lap main event after starting on the pole.
“When I start out front it’s usually about hitting the same points. When I drive through the field to get to the front, I know where everybody is running. I don’t know where anybody is when I start out front so I try to protect the bottom,” Ramsay said, explaining the strategy that landed him in Victory Lane to start the new campaign back on April 30.
After a week off due to rain, Ramsay started near the rear of the field in the first race of the Larry’s Towing Triple Crown on May 14. He had to dice through a competitive group of cars to challenge for the lead and earn his second-place finish on the final lap.
“I thought the track had a bit more traction than it did, so I missed the setup a bit. It was real slick and I was struggling,” Ramsay explained. “Finally, on lap 19 when I was still in sixth-place, I found some traction up near the very top and I started going with that line.”
Despite leading every lap in the season opener and driving from the back to a podium finish in week two, the Rossmore, Ont. native knows its not going to get any easier to be upfront as the season wears on.
“I thought everybody had stepped their game up this year and I was right. I’ve been slacking a little bit (in my preparation). I have to step up my game now, for sure,” Ramsay said in praise of a difficult group of competitors.
With a new set of notes and a refreshed focus, Ramsay is now set for his first doubleheader of the season. The team returns to Brighton Speedway on Saturday, May 21 before heading west to compete at Humberstone Speedway against teammate Justin Fontaine on Sunday, May 22. For Ramsay, out-of-town races are as much about camaraderie as they are note building.
“Mostly it’s about going to visit friends and to have some fun, but it allows you some seat time before the Duel on the Dirt races. I want to pull that off again,” said Ramsay, the 2015 Duel on the Dirt Pro Stock Series champion.
Ramsay’s goal is to defend both his Brighton Speedway and Duel on the Dirt championships this year. The Duel on the Dirt is a challenge series between Brighton, Humberstone, Merrittville and Ohsweken Speedway drivers with each track hosting an event throughout the season. Ramsay appears to be off on the right foot with plenty to look forward to on both fronts.
Follow Justin Ramsay’s 2016 Pro Stock season all summer long by ‘Liking’ the Dirty Fast Racing team page on Facebook at facebook.com/DirtyFastRacing and follow him on Twitter at@Dirty_Fast_03.
Justin Ramsay’s 2016 Pro Stock season is supported by several dedicated corporate sponsors, including: Empey Tire, KD Transmission, ABC Taxi, APC Auto Parts Centres, Just Havin’ Fun, Hotch’s Auto Parts and Dirty Fast Racing.
Prepared By Clayton Johns Media
Photo Attachment: Justin Ramsay wheels his No.03 Empey Tire/ABC Taxi in Brighton Speedway Pro Stock competition on May 14, 2016. (Rod Henderson photo).
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