O’Brien’s Fast Train Derails After a Pair of Dominating Wins
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications
With 8 track championships – including the last 3 consecutive titles – already in his hip pocket, Danny O’Brien has to be considered a favourite every time he straps himself into his bright blue #7-Star Global Warranty/1000 Islands RV Centre/Pat’s Radiator/Stover Bus Lines/103.7 BOB-FM/Jackson’s Landscaping & Property Maintenance/Murdock’s Cement Finishing/Kendrick Racing Bicknell machine. Having started the 2009 Brockville Ontario Speedway season with a pair of dominating wins, the veteran racer was looking to complete the hat-trick Saturday, June 6th.
The 30 lap main event for the DIRTcar small block mods got off to a rocky start, as a yellow flag for a 5 car crash in turn 3 slowed the pack with only 1 lap in the books. On the re-start the Kingston, Ontario racer – known as the Pocket Rocket – was running 10th and had his sights set on the front of the pack. Another yellow, for invader David Hebert’s flat tire on lap 6 found O’Brien using the low side of the track, but when the green came back out he was back to his patented high groove.
The pack enjoyed a long, green flag run until Joe Banks went around on the 24th circuit and stopped in turn 2. At that point, Danny O’Brien was gaining ground – but not positions – on the front-running pair of Todd Stewart and Kyle Dingwall, while working through the lapped traffic. When racing resumed, he was back to the top-side and preparing for a chase to the front. He managed to work past Dingwall into the runner-up spot, but his charge was derailed again when the yellow flag came back out on lap 27 for the stopped machine of veteran Steve Bilow.
O’Brien got close to Stewart’s rear bumper on the green-white-checkered run to the finish, but settled for the second place money as the pack charged under the starter’s stand at the show’s conclusion. It was a result most drivers would be thrilled to add to their resume, but Danny O’Brien isn’t most drivers. His goal every night – at every track – is victory lane and second place isn’t nearly good enough when you’re aiming for perfection.
The night before: Danny O’Brien and the crew took their machine to the unfamiliar turf of Brewerton Speedway. The Central New York oval isn’t totally foreign territory to the 41 year-old speedster. He tackles the ‘D-Shaped Dirt Demon’ at least once a season, during the satellite events that run in conjunction with Super Dirt Week.
Any race at Brewerton is like a big block tour event, with Billy Decker, Alan Johnson and Matt Sheppard part of the weekly wars. Using his small block against the more powerful competition, O’Brien managed a 12th place run – just ahead of Decker.
Global Warranty is based in London, Ontario and has been offering a variety of automotive and recreational vehicle warranty packages for more than 20 years, these warranties meet and exceed the needs of today’s drivers. They offer their warranty packages through your local automotive and RV dealer. Ask for details when making your purchase. Their 7 plans offer the ultimate in driving protection. For details, call 800.265.1519 or visit www.globalwarranty.com.
Kendrick Racing is a family run racing team, operating for more than 45 years and calls Merrittville Speedway their home-base. The team has campaigned cars for a number of drivers over the years, including Tim Jones, Scott George and Boyd McTavish. Tim Jones will run the Global Warranty car for Kendrick Racing at Merrittville Speedway and selected special events. Danny O’Brien will campaign the team’s cars at Brockville Ontario Speedway and selected tour stops. Todd Kendrick will run the #55 car at Merrittville and Humberstone, with both drivers joining O’Brien when Brockville Ontario Speedway hosts a Global Warranty night Saturday, August 1st. Learn more about Kendrick Racing by visiting
www.kendrickracing.ca.
Contact:
Todd Kendrick: 519.871.7000
Rob Hanson (Kendrick racing website admin.) rob.hanson@kendrickracing.com
Photo attachment: (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
Danny O’Brien powered his #7-Star Bicknell DIRTcar small block modified to a 2nd place finish – Saturday, June 6th – at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com
613.968.6410 / 613.922.0654