Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
After a solid rookie campaign, Darren Dryden will once again be behind the wheel of the Lucas Oil TQ Can-Am Midget this season. Despite the experience under his belt, he still considers himself a rookie.
“It’s hard to say what I am going to expect, but I have a great car and great mechanic helping me out so we have a good year,” he said. “Hoping for a top-three.”
Dryden had some solid performances last year, but unfortunately wasn’t as competitive as he had hoped in the season opener at Flamboro Speedway. However, he still did a solid job, posting a 10th place finish. When it comes to the midgets, he notes the importance of saving tires.
“You don’t want to overheat your tires too quick,” he said. “But the thing with this car is it’s coil-over suspension versus torsion bar so I have a lot to learn this year. So it feels like we’re back at the starting ground, once again turning laps to learn the TQ.”
While he enjoyed kicking off his year at Flamboro Speedway with it being his own home track, he notes he is looking forward to this weekend at Sunset Speedway as he enjoys how the midgets can “can run two-, three-wide there”.
One thing is certain when it comes to Dryden, though – is his cars always look good as he brings a unique approach to the appearance via his free-hand sharpie designs and and work with DJD Graphics.
“It all started with a Sharpie Helmet,” he said. “Then after that starting airbrushing my own helmet, designing them for a few others, did some designs on some racecars – did them on the computer and printed them. Now I’m in school for graphic design.
“It’s great now as I can provide the whole package from helmet to racecar to gloves to shoes to steering wheel – whatever they want their design on.”
You can check out all of Dryden’s work via his website at https://djdgraphics.ca/.
