Danny O’Brien Grabs Top Ten Finish in Big Block Modified Series Race at Mohawk International Raceway; Battles to a Top Five in 358 Modified Series

It was all set to be a full weekend of racing for Danny O’Brien at Mohawk International Raceway.  The full weekend turned into a full day of racing on Saturday after rain postponed virtually all of Friday night’s schedule to Saturday, making for a very long day at the track.  O’Brien raced the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series show to begin the weekend and followed that up with the 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series to conclude the weekend.

The rain held off on Friday night just long enough to complete the time trials for the Big Block Modifieds.  Danny was second fastest in his time trial group, giving him an outside front row starting spot for his qualifying heat race.  The rain arrived just after time trials were completed, forcing DIRTcar and track officials to set up an all day event on Saturday.

Saturday turned out to be a much better day.  Big Block Modified heat race action was the first order of business for the day.  Danny started from second and maintained that spot throughout the race, earning a spot in the redraw for a top 12 starting spot in the 100 lap main event.  Danny would redraw sixth, and started from outside of row three.  O’Brien moved up early, running fourth on lap 10, but slid back on the dry slick surface as the race approached the 25 lap mark.  O’Brien made a pit stop under a lap 36 caution for a tire change, and returned to the track at the rear of the field.  Over the duration of the event, Danny moved through the field patiently, and by the end of the race he was eighth place.

Once the Big Block race was over, teams began to prepare for the scheduled Saturday night portion of the weekend.  The 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series was on the agenda, and O’Brien was looking for a solid run.  The evening started off well, as O’Brien set fast time in his qualifying group, and was fastest overall amongst the 40 cars that were on hand.  He finished third in his qualifying heat race, transferring to the redraw for a top 12 starting spot.  The first caution of the race occurred on lap 10 and Danny was running strong in fourth place.  He remained in the top five for most of the event and crossed the line in fifth place.

“It was a pretty good weekend, considering all the rain we had on Friday night”, says O’Brien.  “The track was really slick, especially tonight in the 358 race, but we battled hard and were able to get a top five out of it”.

This coming weekend, O’Brien will continue with the 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series as they roll into Brighton Speedway for their inaugural Mr. DIRTcar event.  The annual Applefest Weekend will close out the racing for the month of September and O’Brien will then prepare for the Super DIRT Week Satellite shows at Cayuga County and Rolling Wheels in early October before closing out the season at Brockville Speedway on October 13^th and 14^th for the 1000 Islands RV Centre DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals.

Danny O’Brien would like to thank 1000 Islands RV Centre, Pat’s Rad, BOB FM, Ponte Bros. Masonry, Morrison Racing Engines, Snap-On Adam Way, Wurth, Bicknell Racing Products, and Integra Racing Shocks for their support during the 2012 season.

For more information on Danny O’Brien and the 17D racing team, please visit our brand new website, www.dannyobrien.ca.  The website just received a new look this week.  You can also follow Danny O’Brien through www.1000islandsrvmotorsports.com, a new website recently launched by longtime sponsor 1000 Islands RV.

Danny O’Brien’s Disappointing Weekend Ends on a Strong Note With Second Place Finish in Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Race at Cornwall

The weekend didn’t start the way Danny O’Brien and his 1000 Islands RV Centre team had hoped with a mechanical failure at Mohawk Raceway on Friday night.   The frustrations continued over into Saturday night at Brockville Speedway with another frustrating night at the BOS.  Sunday’s Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event at Cornwall Speedway was the highlight of the weekend with a strong second place finish.

O’Brien entered Thursday night’s race at Mohawk Raceway with a shot at the championship. The cards would definitely have to fall his way for that to happen, but at the drop of the green flag for the 50 lap Modified feature, O’Brien’s car wasn’t right, and he made his way to the infield, out of harm’s way on the very first lap of the race with a broken valve in the engine.  Any chance of a championship was now gone as he was unable to continue.  O’Brien would go on to finish the season fifth place in points.

Danny’s luck wasn’t much better on Saturday night at Brockville Speedway.  After a fourth place finish in his qualifier, he started the 30 lap main event from 12^th place, and once again was sidelined in the opening laps, this time with front-end damage.  He was unable to continue.  O’Brien, a 10 time champion at Brockville Speedway, would a disappointing season with a seventh place overall finish in the 2012 point standings.

Cornwall Speedway was up next with their 125 lap Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series race which also counted towards the Canadian Nationals Series Championship.  Danny started the night by setting the pace in the opening practice session for his group, and backed that up in time trials, earning a front row starting spot for his heat race.  He won his heat, and made it into the redraw for a top 12 starting spot for the 125 lap race.  Danny drew the 12^th position and would start the race on the outside of row six.  By lap 25, O’Brien advanced his position to sixth place, and soon made his way into the top five.  With 50 laps complete, he was up to third, and was looking real strong leading up to the scheduled 75 lap competition caution.  With 70 laps complete he made the pass for the lead, and held the top spot when the pre-determined caution was displayed to the field.  The pit crew went to work, changing tire and making some adjustments to the car during the 10 minute break.  When the race resumed, Danny would soon lose the top spot when the race resumed, but maintained the runner-up spot over the remaining laps.

“It was a good run for us tonight, we just needed to he just a little better to contend for the win”, says O’Brien.  “After the rest of the weekend that we have had, we will definitely take and move on to the next race”. 

Danny will be back in action at Mohawk Raceway on September 15^th, Brighton Speedway on September 22^nd, and Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Rolling Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on October 4^th and 5^th as part of Super DIRT Week.  He will close out the 2012 season back at Brockville Speedway for the 1000 Islands RV Centre Northeast Fall Nationals October 12^th to October 14^th.

Danny O’Brien would like to thank 1000 Islands RV Centre, Pat’s Rad, BOB FM, Ponte Bros. Masonry, Morrison Racing Engines, Snap-On Adam Way, Wurth, Bicknell Racing Products, and Integra Racing Shocks for their support during the 2012 season.

For more information on Danny O’Brien and the 17D racing team, please visit our brand new website, www.dannyobrien.ca.  The website just received a new look this week.  You can also follow Danny O’Brien through www.1000islandsrvmotorsports.com, a new website recently launched by longtime sponsor 1000 Islands RV.