STAYNER, ON- Reigning Sunset Speedway Late Model champion Dwayne Baker might be the busiest driver in the pit area this weekend. That’s because, by Sunday morning, Baker will have raced 75-laps in Friday’s ‘Garry Reynolds Memorial’ Late Model Invitational, followed by 300-laps in Saturday’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series ‘Leland 300’.
“I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about finding work to do this weekend,” deadpans Baker with a smile as his team puts the finishing touches on preparations for the busy double-header.
The team will unload at Sunset on Friday afternoon, with hopes of earning their second career Garry Reynolds Memorial victory in the Ltd. Late Model division.
“This race means something to a lot of people,” explains ‘The Bully’ when asked about the event’s prestige as a proverbial ‘Crown Jewel’. “We raced with Garry for a lot of years – so being able to compete in his memorial is one of the highlights of our season”
“I’m sure there are a lot of people that think the same way I do,” continues Baker. “Garry was one hell of a competitor, and the best way to honour him is to come out to his event and lay everything on the line for 75-laps. May the best man win”
“Our long-run program has been really good the last couple seasons, so I think we’ll have enough for these guys on Friday night. We won the last ‘Reynolds’ at Barrie in 2013 and it would mean the world to us to win the first edition at Sunset”
Baker will then transition into his much heavier NASCAR Canadian Tire Series entry for Saturday’s Leland 300 – marking the first ever NCATS event at the Innisfil, ON oval.
“Going from the Late Model to the NCATS car is a night and day difference,” says Baker. “The Late Model is a little more forgiving – we learned at Chaudiere how quickly you can bend up the bodies on the NCATS cars. On Saturday we’ll just do our best to keep our nose clean and be around at the end”
“It’s tough to say which one of these races we’d sooner win,” shrugs the fan favourite. “We’re just going to take each day one lap at a time. We know the track really well, and I’m pretty confident in our equipment. As long as we can stay out of the messes, I think we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Dwayne Baker’s 2015 season is made possible thanks to Zancor Custom Homes, G.D. Coates Used Car Superstore, McGunegill Engine Performance, Four Valley’s Excavating, Clearview Heating & Cooling, Baker Performance Parts and Nisco National Leasing.
Fans can stay up to date with Dwayne and the rest of the team by visiting the official Dwayne Baker Racing page on Facebook.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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