INVERARY, Ont. – June 26, 2017 – If Danny O’Brien was a competitive swimmer, his performance on Saturday night would have earned him a perfect 10. The Inverary, Ont. driver was flawless all night long at Brockville Ontario Speedway as he swept 358 Modified competition to earn his third win of the season at the 3/8-mile oval.
O’Brien was quickest in his time trial group and won his heat race before pulling the second starting spot in the redraw. The 1000 Islands RV Centre No.17d lined-up on the outside of the front row for the 30-lap main event with Lance Willix to his inside. Eventually, O’Brien claimed the point and drove to the win.
“Lance Willix took the lead and for the first eight or nine laps we were back and forth and it was a good race,” O’Brien said. “He got a flat tire and then after we got past halfway it was single-file restarts, so we were good from there.”
O’Brien’s win marks his sixth straight finish of second or better to start the season at Brockville. He has finished either first or second in each start at the Eastern Ontario track and has not finished outside the top-10 in nine starts overall this year. The consistent record is certainly a focus for O’Brien and his team and an accomplishment the group takes great pride in achieving.
“We’ve done a lot of fine tuning and we have all the little things right,” O’Brien said, explaining the early season success. “We spend a lot of time in the garage making sure all of the little stuff is the way its supposed to be and that makes a big difference.”
The time in the garage to prepare for weekends at the track has proven a difference-maker throughout the career of the 13-time Brockville champion. The hard work hasn’t changed and the results have remained sound.
“It’s keeping yourself in the right frame of mine and making sure the guys don’t miss any little things on the racecar,” O’Brien said, adding his team is incredibly talented and experienced. “We’re just making sure everything is the way it’s supposed to be before we go on the racetrack.”
Even away from Brockville, O’Brien has been strong. O’Brien has raced in two of three events at Mohawk International Raceway this season. O’Brien collected a third-place finish earlier in the month and had a seventh-place result earlier in the year on what he described as an “off-night”. He also earned a sixth-place finish against the Big-Block Modified field at Canandaigua (NY) Motorsports Park in April
“We’ve been strong everywhere,” O’Brien said. “Even Canandaigua we had a good run. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has won everything else. We’ll see how the summer keeps going, but so far it’s been really strong.”
Early season success can breed complacency at times, but O’Brien is keenly aware he and his team must remain on their toes for the entire season in order to stay at the top of their game.
“You always keep trying stuff. If you don’t, you’re falling behind,” O’Brien remarked. “We’re still trying little things here and there. Some work and some don’t. You just don’t go too far off the beaten path and get yourself in trouble.”
O’Brien will be back in action this week on Canada Day July 1 at Brockville for the second round of the Ogilvie’s Quad Crown Series. Race time is 7:00pm. For additional event information, visit www.brockvillespeedway.com.
SEASON STATS
Danny O’Brien – 9 Starts: 3 Wins, 7 Top-5s, 9 Top-10s
DANNY O’BRIEN MEDIA
Website: dannyobrien.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/DannyOBrienRacing
Danny O’Brien is proud to partner with several dedicated marketing partners for the 2017 race season, including 1000 Islands RV Centre, ATC World Class Trailers, Bob FM, Pat’s Auto Centre, Bicknell Racing Products, Heather-Lynn Topping, Integra Shocks, Number One Speed Shock Service and Kenneth Topping.
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