ORONO, ON – The calendar shows the opening dates are coming up fast, so the father and son race team of Craig and Brandt Graham is quickly working their way through their pre-season checklists.
On one side of the Orono, Ontario shop sits the bright orange Dodge Charger that 16 year old Brandt Graham will campaign on the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series. The Clarke High School student will contend for Rookie of the Year Honours on a seven event schedule that begins Saturday, May 9 at Full Throttle Motor Speedway.
Its stable-mate is the red Chevrolet Impala SS Late Model machine that 2013 Peterborough Speedway track champion will campaign in selected starts on the APC Pro Late Model Tour, getting underway Saturday, May 23 at Sunset Speedway. Craig Graham says it’s an exciting time for the team, as each driver begins the 2015 season with a new racing agenda.
“It’s almost like counting down the days to Christmas morning,” explained Graham. “Each of us raced at one track or another throughout our career, but if everything goes according to plan, we’ll spend much of the summer months touring throughout the province. As a father and coach, I want to support Brandt as much as possible. There are a couple of conflicting dates on the schedules, so we’ll have to see how things play out.”
Graham says his father in-law Marten Rottine and the crew have been working hard to get both cars ready to make their 2015 debut. Each machine had the bodywork removed so the frame, chassis and suspension components could be checked over. Engines have been freshened and now, everything is being put back together. It’s almost like building model cars; just on a much larger scale.
“There’s a lot going on pretty much any time of the day or night,” admitted Graham, who works as Fixed Vehicle Operations Manager at Clarington Hyundai in Bowmanville. “Everything is on pace and we’re working smart, not hard. You can’t rush through any aspect of a project this detailed. Marten has always been a stickler for making sure things are done a certain way. Our names are over the doors, but he’s the one running the show. Neither team would be in a position to even attempt a program like this without an experienced hand taking charge, so we’re letting him call the shots.”
Marketing plans for the new campaign are coming into place, with Oshawa, Ontario’s Arcade Pools on board and complimenting returning sponsors Full Circle Automation Inc., J&M Restoration and Collision, Autocare, Hot Rod Swag and Squirrel Head Music. Paint scheme and design work for Craig and Brandt Graham’s 2015 efforts are by Mayhew Graphics, with team media and public relations being handled by Clarke Motorsports Communications.
Fans can follow Craig and Brandt Graham on the track and behind the scenes throughout the 2015 season by liking the ‘Graham Racing’ page at www.facebook.com.
Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
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