INVERARY, Ont. – July 27, 2016 – A slick and tricky track provided a mighty test for Danny O’Brien on Saturday night at Brockville Ontario Speedway. The driver of the 1000 Islands RV Centre/ATC World Class Trailers No.17d 358 Modified overcame the challenge to extend his streak of top-five finishes at Brockville to nine straight. O’Brien has not finished worse than fifth this year at Brockville.
Saturday’s race was particularly difficult for O’Brien as a dry track due to a lack of rain in the area allowed for limited passing around the big 3/8-mile oval.
“Brockville was tough going (this week). The track was really slick and I was in a traffic jam for the first eight laps. There were no more yellows after that and we ended up with a fifth-place finish,” O’Brien said. “It was one of those tracks that was really hard to pass on. We need some rain badly.”
The night also featured the five-lap King of the Bullring Dash for the top-five drivers in the 358 Modified standings and were lined up in reverse order of the current standings. As the point leader, O’Brien started last.
“We started dead last and got to third. It’s only five laps, so there’s not a whole lot you can do there. In five laps, you’re not going to go too far,” O’Brien explained.
The competition at Brockville this year has been incredibly tough with few drivers able to capture more than one victory. It also makes O’Brien’s streak of top-five even more impressive, although he isn’t keeping track.
“I don’t think about that stuff during race season,” O’Brien said with a chuckle. “I just go race my race and do the best I can.”
Continued O’Brien: “I think the quality of cars is getting better and better, and with the dry racetracks there’s no crashes and no yellows. When you don’t tighten the field back up, it makes it tough. Everybody’s getting smarter and that takes away cautions.”
The success through the first four months of the season has not rendered O’Brien complacent. Instead, he is continuously searching for his fourth win on the 2016 calendar.
“We try stuff every week. You can’t just sit back and go with what you’re going with. You always have to try something a little different every week to try and find something a little better,” offered O’Brien.
O’Brien is preparing for the busiest portion of his 2016 schedule over the next two months. It starts with a doubleheader next weekend at Brockville on Saturday night before a return trip to Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 31 for the second round of the Bandit Motorsports Canadian Nationals.
“From what I’ve seen when I was there lately, Cornwall has changed and the bottom is the fast way around. Last time we were there we pulled out too much gear for that,” O’Brien said of the technical challenges the track poses. “We’re going to work on that and try to get a little better for this race. Hopefully we don’t make the same mistakes we made last time.”
Following this weekend’s doubleheader, O’Brien is planning a handful of more races at Mohwak International Raceway in Hogansburg, NY before a long list of invitational races take place in September, including the Applefest Shootout at Brighton Speedway on September 25.
O’Brien is also intrigued by last week’s announcement that New York’s Super DIRTweek, billed as racing’s biggest party, will be held at Oswego Speedway in Oswego, NY after 44 years on the one-mile track at the New York State Syracuse Fairgrounds. He has not yet reached a decision on whether to attend the event, but O’Brien is certainly interested in the smaller 5/8-mile.
“We’re going to get through August and September 1 we’ll sit down and see what we’re going to do. It’ll be a twist for everybody. The nice thing is people don’t have to spend a lot of money on bodies and all the things they did for Syracuse,” O’Brien commented.
For event details and information on next weekend’s events, visit www.brockvillespeedway.com and www.cornwallspeedway.com.
SEASON STATS
Danny O’Brien 2016 Season: 14 Starts – 4 Wins, 12 Top-5s, 14 Top-10s
FOLLOW DANNY
Website: www.dannyobrien.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/DannyOBrienRacing (@DannyOBrienRacing)
Danny O’Brien’s 2016 DIRTcar 358 Modified season is supported by several dedicated corporate sponsors, including: 1000 Islands RV Centre, ATC World Class Trailers, Bob FM, Ambush, Pat’s Auto Centre, Bicknell Racing Products, Heather-Lynn Topping, Integra Shocks, Northwood 2 Construction, and Snap-On Adam Way.
Prepared By Clayton Johns Media
Photo Attachment: Danny O’Brien races down the front stretch at Brockville Ontario Speedway. (Henry Hannewyk photo).
-30-
