DURHAM, ON- Following a come-from-behind 7th place finish in last Saturday’s OSCAAR Modified Tour stop at Sunset Speedway, ‘Relentless’ Tommy Robb will head for Full Throttle Motor Speedway on June 13th – for the annual running of the lauded ‘Rick Woolner Memorial’.
“There’s something about this race that gets you fired up,” beams Robb as he works with his team to put the finishing touches on his familiar No. 88R. “Anyone that has an Open Wheel Modified in their shop wants to win the Rick Woolner Memorial. This is the kind of event that you unload at knowing you’re going to have to work twice as hard to win it”
“It’s a lot like the Autumn Colours Classic in terms of prestige. For a young team like us – it would mean the world to come out and have a huge performance at ‘the Woolner'”
“I couldn’t think of a better way to make a name for ourselves,” continues ‘Relentless’. “This is the win that you remember for the rest of your career”
With extended laps – and the promise of an inflated purse – Robb notes that many competitors won’t have to look far to find motivation for the Crown Jewel event.
“For a lot of guys I think the extra laps and the extra money are a big motivator,” explains the former Full Throttle Motor Speedway regular. “But, for guys like myself, it just means way more”
“I was fortunate enough to grow up around Varney and see Rick in his prime. There weren’t many guys that put in his level of work. He was one of a kind. So winning something with his name on it would be just about the greatest honour I could ever think of”
The tour sophomore hopes that his impressive rebound at Sunset – finishing 8th after a mid-race altercation forced him to drive from the tail of the field – is a sign of things to come in this weekend’s 50-lap engagement.
“We had an awesome car last Saturday at Sunset – I just wish I could buy a little bit of luck,” shrugs Robb. “With that being said, I don’t think momentum helps anyone when you’re headed to [Full Throttle]. It doesn’t matter where we finished last weekend, all that matters is finding a way to get in front of 19 other guys while racing the tightest track on the tour”
Adding with a smile, “I think the fans are going to get more than enough action this weekend”
When asked his strategy for his second-career ‘Memorial’ appearance, Robb is forthcoming with whom he feels he’ll need to relegate to his rearview mirror.
“There are a lot of really capable teams on this tour, but I think every single one of us is watching the 8 car,” states Robb matter-of-factly. “Gary [McLean] is one of the greatest of all time in a Modified. If you can find a way to beat him – you stand a pretty good chance of winning the race”
“We don’t get to come home much anymore, so any time we get a chance to race at [Full Throttle], we relish it. Every guy on this team is going to have a ton of friends and family in the grandstands, so a big run on Saturday would mean way more than a regular tour event”
“We have all the motivation we need – now we just need to find some speed in practice, qualify well and make something happen.”
Marketing support for Tommy Robb’s 2015 season is provided by First General Services of Hanover and Kitchener, Sturrock Construction, Roymar Demolition, Wild’s Printing and Carquest of Fergus in addition to the ever-present support of Tommy’s Mother and Father.
To learn more about ‘Relentless’ Tommy Robb, follow him on Twitter @Relentless88R and visit the brand new Tommy Robb Racing page on Facebook.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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