{"id":5098,"date":"2008-07-09T08:32:42","date_gmt":"2008-07-09T13:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100.24.212.105\/?p=5098"},"modified":"2010-11-20T08:35:00","modified_gmt":"2010-11-20T14:35:00","slug":"sportsman-series-racer-wiesner-hoping-for-better-canadian-exchange-at-brockville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/dirtcar-ne\/sportsman-modifieds\/sportsman-series-racer-wiesner-hoping-for-better-canadian-exchange-at-brockville\/","title":{"rendered":"Sportsman Series Racer Wiesner Hoping For Better Canadian Exchange At Brockville"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Danny Wiesner - Jay Fish Photo<\/p><\/div>\n
Weedsport, NY<\/strong> \u2014 July 9, 2008 \u2013 By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director \n<\/strong> \nLast season Dan Wiesner made the commitment to follow the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series for a second time and schedule a return trip to Canada, both of which topped his agenda in the summer of 2005.<\/p>\n
Now holding down the top ranking in the \u201908 Mr. DIRTcar Sporstman Series point standings through the opening five races, Wiesner is once again looking forward to crossing the border, this time with better results on his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be making the trip to Brockville if I didn\u2019t think it was worthwhile,\u201d said Wiesner, 27, who scored his first career Sportsman Series win at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in May then followed up with two more top-fives at Rolling Wheels and Brewerton Speedway during the Fourth of July holiday. \u201cI definitely feel we have a chance for the Mr. DIRT title.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot in our favor this year and I\u2019m confident we\u2019ll have a really good season. Nick (Bruno, crew chief) works right with Billy Colton at Troyer as an engineer and Billy also gives us good support and provides some valuable advice, like offering ideas on set-up and gears. I certainly couldn\u2019t do this without all the guys that put in the long hours every week and everybody has a positive attitude trying to get the job done.<\/p>\n
Wiesner leads a hungry pack of American racers into Canada when the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship trail continues July 10 at Brockville Ontario Speedway. The Thursday special will mark Wiesner\u2019s debut at Paul Kirkland\u2019s recently revamped 3\/8-miler, which is also the hometrack of DIRTcar NorthEast\u2019s winningest Sportsman Modified this season, Chris Raabe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is our first shot at Brockville so I\u2019ll probably be worried about my own situation instead of any of the other guys,\u201d noted Wiesner, who closed out his 2007 campaign 10th in the final Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman point standings and currently owns 14 feature career wins. \u201cWe always start out to win and normally think we have a car to do it. A top-five is good at a new track but being consistent is what we\u2019re after. I\u2019m figuring some of the biggest competition will come from the local guys, that\u2019s what usually happens at a place like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiesner made his maiden voyages to Merrittville Speedway (finished 11th) and Humberstone Speedway (16th) last year after avoiding the border patrol altogether in 2006. He had intentions of following the entire Mr. DIRTcar Series in \u201905 until an early season set-back altered his plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe finished third at Ohsweken that year but came up light on the scales and were disqualified completely,\u201d recalled Wiesner, who joined initial winner Curtis Friesen and fourth-place finisher Jay Mallory on the list of DSQs in what was regarded as one of the best Sportsman shows of the season. \u201cWe normally start the race at a certain weight but the track didn\u2019t supply the required racing gas and we couldn\u2019t bring any through customs so we took the green without a full tank. We knew it was going to be close, I think we ended with about a gallon to spare, but it should\u2019ve never even been close as we\u2019re always within the rules whenever we race.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Monroe Wheelchair Racing no. 66 Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing\/Troyer Team will have plenty of fuel when they arrive in Brockville on Thursday. Yet meeting the minimum weight requirement is the least of Wiesner\u2019s worries going to a new track.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a lot of cars so close running the crate engines, getting a good draw when you first come in the gate is the biggest factor,\u201d figured Wiesner, who actually faded as far back as 17th before rallying to capture the Rolling Wheels main on Memorial Day. \u201cYou\u2019re usually in for a long night if you get a bad draw. And even if you grab a few spots in qualifying, you still end up in the \u2018shark pit\u2019 (12th-20th) to start the feature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a lot more confident after hitting those tour tracks for the first time last year and getting some good experience. This year I\u2019m doing my best to stay consistent every time out. I might be a little a conservative starting out but that\u2019s because I know being around at the end is more important,\u201d said Wiesner, who only missed the season-finale at Orange County Fair Speedway last autumn, posting a 2nd-place best at Can-Am Motorsports Park during Super DIRT Week in October.<\/p>\n
Wiesner will be out to log as much track time as possible with Brockville being his only new venture this season. Aside from Colton\u2019s insight, the only notes the Geneva, New York chauffeur has on the place were recently gathered in conversation after parking next to BOS regular Luke Whitteker in the Rolling Wheels pits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked just a little, he asked me about the Wheels and I wanted to know some things about Brockville,\u201d Wiesner added. \u201cOther than learning you might need to run a hard tire, I haven\u2019t heard much about the track because none of the guys I race against go there. Luke told me a range of gears to go with depending on what I prefer. I only hope the track isn\u2019t too short, a big track like Rolling Wheels is still my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n
For additional information, please contact Sportsman Series Competition Director Michael Sanchelli (cell 862\/432-3597; e-mail suitcase@optonline.net) or DIRTcar NE Competition Director Cory Reed at the Weedsport office (315\/834-6606).<\/p>\n