HAMILTON, ON- Former Flamboro Speedway Pro4 Modified regular Terry Baker will conclude his first season back behind the wheel of a Pro Late Model at this Saturday’s Frostoberfest at Flamboro Speedway. The Hamilton, ON native will match wits with some of Ontario’s best Late Model competitors in the Triple-50s Grisdale Triple Crown.
Baker’s Pro Late Model season has been a frustrating affair at times, but the Baker Performance of Hamilton founder insists the adversity of 2015 is all part of the game.
“We have to crawl before we walk with this Late Model program,” offers Baker. “There were never any assumptions within this team that there weren’t going to be growing pains this season”
“I mean, we’re gearing up to race with the absolute best of the best. That’s the entire reason I bought this car and put this program together. Anything worth doing is always going to take longer than you think – and that’s exactly how I feel about getting up to speed with this Pro Late Model”
Baker’s most recent outing came at Delaware Speedway’s APC United Late Model Series-sanctioned Great Canadian Race. Despite showcasing significant speed through two days of practice, Baker narrowly missed the mark in time trials and fell short of qualifying for the annual Crown Jewel event.
“I’ve learned something from every moment I’ve had with this car this season. Especially the disappointments,” explains Baker when asked about his shortcomings at Delaware. “We’re getting closer. Even if it doesn’t look that way from afar, we are without question getting closer to having this car where we need it to be”
“This sport is based on ebbs and flows, and when you stop learning that’s when you’re in trouble,” adds the father of two. “At this point in the season, I can undoubtedly say that I know ten times more about what it takes to succeed in a Pro Late Model than I did at the beginning of the season. That’s what’s most important”
Entering Saturday’s Triple-50s, Baker knows that the team’s success rests largely on the man sitting within the cockpit of the familiar No. 26.
“You can’t make mistakes when you’re competing against the guys at this level,” says Baker. “These guys have their programs working overtime. They know what it takes to succeed. Hopefully, this Saturday, I can eliminate any miscues or mistakes from behind the wheel, and just utilize this phenomenal setup and this top-tier equipment. Once the driver catches up with the car, these guys are going to be in trouble”
Operating with an entirely volunteer crew made up of longtime friends, Baker explains this weekend’s contest will be largely about rewarding his team for their hardwork all season long.
“The guys that give up their free time to help on this car have been doing everything to make this team better. I want a strong performance for them,” says the veteran. “When you unload at a place like Flamboro, everyone feels like they have a shot. It’s an equalizer”
“If you can get that car to rotate, you’re in position to pick your way through that field,” adds Baker. “It’s been a while since I’ve raced there fulltime, but it’ll always be home. There’s a pretty special feeling when we pass through those gates. It’s a great facility, and Frostoberfest sounds like it’s going to be an incredible event. We’ll be looking to do everything in our power to sew up a performance that we can talk about all off-season.”
For more information on the Grisdale Triple Crown and Frostoberfest, visit www.FlamboroSpeedway.ca.
Terry Baker will carry sponsorship this weekend from Ohsweken Speedway, EPIC Racewear, Bryan’s Auction Center, JustJunk.com of Hamilton, Baker Performance of Hamilton, Permatex and NAPA Auto Parts.
Fans can keep up with Terry all season long by visiting the official Terry Baker Racing page on Facebook.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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