January 10, 2014- It can be a hard habit to break. Whether you’re competing on a national stage or banging fenders at the local short track, once the racing bug bites, there’s usually no turning back.
After capturing Brighton Speedway’s Pro Stock track championship in 2004 and running near the front of the pack in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Grant Fitzpatrick stepped away from the spot he loved. A workplace accident – that left the professional tradesman mason with BACU Canada blinded on his left side – changed his priorities and switched his passion from racing to family.
“It was hard to walk away from the competitive side of the sport, but I still made it to the track on a regular basis,” said Fitzpatrick. “I’d met so many fantastic people and made a lot of wonderful friends over the years, it would have been nearly impossible to completely walk away. If my accident on the job taught me nothing else, I learned the importance of family. With two young children at home, it was time to focus on being a father and husband.”
For his latest kick at the can in the local one/third-mile oval’s weekly wars, Grant Fitzpatrick will campaign a metric Chevrolet Monte Carlo, with a Hale Racing Engines powerplant. The 44 year old – who enjoys camping and fishing in his time away from work and the speedway – says he’s hoping to pick-up where he left off after the 2007 season and be one of the 2014 season’s front runners in the Pro Stock field and eventually make it back to the winner’s circle.
“I think I ran well enough in the past to honestly say the team doesn’t have any unfinished business, but I won’t be content to just get out there and ride every week,” said the confident driver. “There’s a reason it’s called ‘racing’ and if the car isn’t competitive, I should just buy a ticket and watch from the grandstand. As nice as it might be, I’m not expecting to win every night, but I think we have the experience needed to get the job done.”
While he originally campaigned the #8, the machine that will roll from the Fitzpatrick Racing shop for the 2014 fray at Brighton Speedway will carry #28. The driver – who likes the way teams pitch-in and help each other through the tough times – says the number is significant because this is his second time around and he also has two friends who have used the same number.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into action,” said Fitzpatrick. “I can still remember how great it felt to win my first feature race. The track championship and most main event victories in 2004 was a tremendous rush. After being away for so long, it’ll almost feel like I’m starting over from scratch. I think that’s one of the most exciting things about heading back to the track.”
To learn more, contact Grant Fitzpatrick – gfitzy@hotmail.ca.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
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