BRAMPTON, ON- After a doubleshot weekend that saw his team saddled with mechanical issues from start to finish – and an emergency trip to a Barrie-area hospital – third-generation racer Billy Zardo is looking to tonight’s 75-lap Championship Night Finale as a way to reverse his fortunes.
“Last weekend just may have been the worst two days I’ve ever had at a speedway,” says Zardo. “I can’t think of any time in my career that I was able to pack so much bad luck into just a few hours. So, no matter what goes down this Saturday – it can’t possibly be any worse”
Zardo’s No. 46 blew an engine in the early stages of Saturday night’s first Late Model feature – sending the Z Team into a frenzy to have a replacement installed in time for the second 35-lap event.
The team would have Billy ready for feature number two with minutes to spare, however a spark plug wire would burn off their backup engine just 8-laps into the event – saddling Zardo with a 22nd place finish.
Sunday morning, after a trip to a Barrie hospital for an emergency skin condition, Zardo was ready to return to action. However, fate had other plans.
“I spent the whole morning in the hospital, because I had developed a painful boil right where my belts do up,” explains Zardo. “Once we had that taken care of, we got back to the speedway just in time to get strapped in for the feature. Unfortunately, just as we backed out of our stall to head to the lineup area, we snapped our lower control arm and ended our night before it even started”
“I’ve never felt so unlucky,” adds the personable up-and-comer.
Tonight, ‘Z3’ will look for redemption, as it hits the track for a 75-lap event that will cap the 2015 Sunset Speedway regular season.
“I enjoy the longer races,” says Zardo. “75-laps is more my style of racing. This is an awesome opportunity for us to break our winless streak – and I intend on doing everything in my power to get my guys to victory lane. They work way too hard on this thing not to walk out of this season with some fresh hardware”
“As awful as it is to go through nights like we had last weekend, it’s an excellent motivator. After our trouble, we went through every inch of this car. We’re as well prepared as we’ve been all season long. If we can’t get to victory lane tomorrow, it won’t be for a lack of effort and it definitely won’t be for a lack of preparation.”
Log on to www.SunsetSpeedway.ca to purchase advance tickets for September 12th’s 75-lap season finale at Sunset Speedway.
Zardo’s 2015 season is powered by Holmes On Homes, National Exhaust, Better Contracting and Hassell Automotive.
Be sure to follow Billy on Twitter @Z3Zardo4846.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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