INVERARY, Ont. (July 11, 2016) – Danny O’Brien didn’t expect to make a trip to Can-Am Motorsports Park this weekend, but is more than happy he did after picking up his fourth win of the season at the Lafargeville, NY track on Saturday night.
The Inverary, Ont. driver made the decision to race across the border after his home track, Brockville Ontario Speedway, cancelled Saturday’s events due to impending rain. O’Brien’s second trip to the big 5/8-mile oval proved worthwhile as he drove to victory lane at that track for the first time in 2016.
“We started ninth and it was an old school Can-Am. There was a cushion and it was fast, but you could pass. (The top) was the fast way around,” O’Brien said with excitement. “You could pass a few cars on the bottom, but the outside was definitely the place to be.”
O’Brien used a restart on lap 13 to capitalize on contact between the second and third-place runners and jumped from fourth to second behind race leader Brady Gill. Then on lap 17, O’Brien got his chance at the point position.
“Brady Gill was leading and going good. He got in a little hot and jumped the cushion in turn one, which gave us a chance to get by him,” O’Brien said of what would be the winning pass.
The win was a little sweeter for the ‘Pocket Rocket’ as he claimed a bounty on Can-Am 358 Modified point leader Billy Dunn. O’Brien’s victory capped off a day full of change at a challenging racetrack given its contrast to Brockville.
“Can-Am is a different place. When you race short tracks all the time and you go there, they are long, long straightaways. It takes a few laps to get accustomed to not wanting to throw the car in sideways. It’s a place of its own, especially when its that fast,” O’Brien explained.
The win follows O’Brien’s second-place finish last week at Brockville where he has still not finished outside the top-five this season.
“We’re having a real consistent year with a lot of top-fives and top-threes and we’re having fun with it. That was our goal,” O’Brien commented. “The summer’s going along well, so we just have to keep it going.”
O’Brien has been a fierce competitor this season, but has raced smooth and clean, an instrumental part to his success through the first half of the season. He has finished every race he’s started in the top-10.
“I remember season’s with more wins, but not this much consistency. I’ll take the consistency right now,” said O’Brien of his bid to repeat as champion at Brockville.
Sunday’s DIRTcar Central Region race at Cornwall Motor Speedway was cancelled due to flooding and wet grounds following Saturday’s heavy rain. O’Brien is now set to return to action at Brockville on Saturday, July 16 for the final round of the Ogilvie’s Triple Crown Series with 60 laps on the card. Complete event details are available at www.brockvillespeedway.com.
SEASON STATS
Danny O’Brien 2016 Season: 12 Starts – 4 Wins, 10 Top-5s, 12 Top-10s
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Website: www.dannyobrien.ca
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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 poses in victory lane following Saturday’s win at Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, NY. (Rebecca Eisele photo).
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