Danny O’Brien Fights Brockville’s Rush-Hour Traffic to a Third Place Finish By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

Most racetracks handicap a driver’s starting position in the main event based on their most recent finishes.
Kingston,
Ontario DIRTcar small block modified racer Danny O’Brien has found his way to Brockville Ontario Speedway’s victory lane on 8 different occasions during the 2009 campaign.  As a result, he took the green flag from 14th starting spot Saturday , August 22nd.  That meant there would be some heavy hitters he’d have to get past if there was to be a 9th celebration in the winner’s circle.

As a rule, O’Brien likes to run the top side of the speedway, but with the ASCS Patriot Group sprint cars also on the show, the track was extremely slick and dry.  The cushion was practically nowhere to be found.  With his preferred plan of attack unavailable, the driver known as ‘The Pocket Rocket’ needed to revise his course of action.  Much to his dismay, he quickly learned that conditions were the same whether he’d picked the high or low groove.

“The right rear on the sprinters is huge,” said O’Brien while relaxing inside his trailer after the race.  “It literally grabs the moisture out of the track.  Paul (track owner/promoter Paul Kirkland) does an excellent job every week, but with all the racing out there tonight, it slicked-over very quickly.”

Coming from 14th meant he’d be on the outside line for the first few laps.  When Todd Stewart brought out the race’s first yellow flag with 3 in the books, the #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 was running 11th and he would now get a chance to try the bottom.  There may have been a little moisture down low, but O’Brien struggled to get around the cars of Jason Riddell and Steve Bilow for a number of laps.  That 3 car battle slowed his progress and allowed the leaders to get further away.

“It was hard to get by those 2 guys, but they’re racing for position too so I had to wait for an opening,” said O’Brien.
 “I thought I was clear a couple of times, but the hole closed-up pretty quickly,”

When early leader Gage Morin surrendered the top spot to Bill Gill on lap 19, O’Brien was running 5th.  He took his bright blue machine into 4th 2 laps later and worked around the inside of his brother Tim’s #88 for 3rd with just 4 to go – but that’s as far as he’d make it.  Bill Gill took the win, with Morin second.  Kyle Dingwall and Brian McDonald rounded-out the top 5.

“Considering the track conditions, we got the best the car would give us,” O’Brien added.  “The crew tried some things after the hot lap session, but I think we got the finish we could tonight.  Consistency is the key to winning championships and a 3rd place run is nothing to hang your head about.”

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
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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 Speedways.  Learn more about Kendrick Racing by visiting www.kendrickracing.ca.

Contact:
Danny O’Brien:  613.542.1361
Todd Kendrick:  519.871.7000
Rob Hanson (Kendrick racing website admin.) rhanson5@cogeco.ca

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications With 11 shows completed, Danny O’Brien enjoys nearly a 120 point cushion over his nearest rival in the Brockville Ontario Speedway small block modified points chase.

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
                       clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com