Danny O’Brien Ends Tumultuous 2012 Season With Early Race Incident at Brockville Speedway in Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Finale

After staring the season with wins at Brockville Speedway and Mohawk Raceway back in May on opening night, the rest of Danny O’Brien’s 2012 racing season has been a struggle.  He has had fast cars on plenty of nights, but has an untimely mechanical failure or simply a victim of being at the wrong place at the right time hindered O’Brien all season.  With the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals on the schedule for the last weekend of the season, O’Brien hoped to put together a strong run to close out the year.

With Saturday being a rare afternoon event at Brockville Speedway, time trials started early, and O’Brien struggled through his session, posting the fifth fastest speed in his group.  He lined up in that fifth position to start the qualifier and needed to gain one spot to solidify his spot in the 100 lap main event.  Handling issues continued to plague him during the heat race, and he would remain in fifth when the checkered flag was displayed at the end of the eight lap race.  After making some adjustments to the car, O’Brien returned to the track for the last chance qualifier, and he led every lap and took home the win.  He started the main event from the 19^th position, and hoped that they had hoped they had all their troubles behind them.  Like his luck has been for most of the season, Danny lasted just two laps into the race as cars piled up in front of him leaving him no room to escape, ending his day 98 laps before the finish.

“It hasn’t been a great season for us.  We really hoped that we could end the season here on a good note, but it wasn’t meant to be”, claims O’Brien after the race.  “We have a great team, great sponsors and great fans here that support us each week, and we look forward to a much better season next year”.

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 and we look forward to the 2013 campaign.

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 Gets Third Place Finish at Rolling Wheels on Thursday Night; Brockville Speedway 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Nationals up Next

As the 2012 racing season begins to wind down, the big racing events through the early part of the fall continued this past weekend as Danny O’Brien and his team took in the Satellite shows during Super DIRT Week in the Syracuse area.  First it was a trip to Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, New York on Wednesday, and then a few minute drive down the road to Rolling Wheels Raceway on Thursday night.  Both events were part of the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.

On Wednesday night, Danny O’Brien was at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, New York.  Many people believe that this race could very well be the final event in the long history of this race track, and a packed pit area and grandstand were on hand.  Danny posted the fastest speed in his time trial group, which was third fastest out of the 44 cars on hand.  He started his qualifying heat race from the front row, and finished second, making the redraw for a top ten starting spot in the 75 lap main event.  Danny started from third place, but a crash on lap four sent him to the pits and done for the night.  As a sign of Sportsman ship, the O’Brien crew helped get his competitor back on the track before the race resumed.

The following night, O’Brien traveled just a few miles up the road to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, New York.  Danny qualified fourth fastest in his time trial group, and advanced one more spot to third in his qualifying heat race, making the redraw for a top 12 starting spot in the main event.  He would draw position number seven, and lined up on the inside of row four.  O’Brien moved to the top five by the first lap, and just a few laps later he was up to fourth.  With 36 laps in the books, Danny had moved into third place, and held that spot until lap 55.  O’Brien would cross the finish line in fourth place, but would later advance to third after a car failed post race inspection.

This coming weekend Danny will be back at Brockville Speedway for the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals.  He will race on Saturday afternoon with the final 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series race, and may race on Sunday as well, attempting to run his 358 Modified against the Big Blocks.  This will be the final weekend of the 2012 racing season.

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.