FRASERVILLE, ON – Most people look at short track stock car racing as a spectator sport. They’re content to watch the action from the sidelines or with friends and family members in the grandstands at their favourite track. From time to time, a speedway’s fan base can also include former racers who’ve stepped away from the driver’s seat for one reason or another.
34-year-old Donovan Price enjoys watching the show – specifically his brother Dan’s effort in the #09 thunder car – at Kawartha Speedway, but all the while he’s been itching to get back into action himself. The Brooklin, ON, resident – who works as a delivery driver for Canadian Springs – campaigned in go karts, thunder cars, open-wheeled modifieds and late models on a part-time basis for more than 10 years. This year, the father of two will head back into battle at the Fraserville, ON 3/8th miler but knows it’ll be an uphill climb before he’s able to fight his older sibling for the checkered flag.
“I bought a Camaro that had last been raced by Jeremy Gerrow,” said Price. “Its going to take some long hours to get it race-ready because the car had just been parked by its previous owner after the last race of the 2006 season. I’d like to be out of the June 15th show at Kawartha, but it’s not worth rushing things. I’ve waited this long to come back and another couple of weeks isn’t going to matter much.”
The thunder car effort of Donovan Price – whose two main event wins give him bragging rights in the clash with his brother – will carry sponsorship support from Richard Price Financial, Krista’s Baits and Bites and A & T Mechanical. The driver – who volunteers as a scout leader and baseball coach in his spare time – is coming back to the sport he loves because of the adrenaline rush that comes with racing and the people he’s met over the years. Never one to take things too seriously, he says his car will carry the number 96…and there is an interesting story as to why.
“You never know what’ll happen on the racetrack and ‘96’ looks the same whether the car is right-side-up or on its roof,” said Price with a smile. “Sometimes, racers – even at our level – put too much pressure on what they do once the green flag waves. Like everyone else, I want to do as well as possible but we’re racing at Kawartha Speedway, not Daytona or Talladega. Winning is great, but any success at the grassroots level is something drivers in every class can enjoy.”
Behind the scenes and at the track, Donovan Price’s thunder car will be prepped by big brother Dan, long-time friend Gord Trimm, the driver’s son Connor and anyone else who is willing to put in some long hours for no pay, other than the satisfaction of seeing the car run well on the track.
“We’re going to have a great time and I can’t wait to get back to the track.” Prospective sponsors can e-mail donovanprice@yahoo.com or follow the driver @Donovanprice on Twitter.
Kawartha klips: With the rainout on June 1, the 2012 season opener at Kawartha Speedway has been delayed until June 15. A 100-lap invitational event for the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models will headline a show that also features Thunder Cars and the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks. Late Model racer Earl Ireland of Earl Ireland Auto Sales will supply trophies for feature event winners throughout the 2012 season. Kawartha Speedway welcomes Rice Lake Fuels as the official supplier of Klotz Racing Fuel for all 3 regular divisions.
Prepared by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
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