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.