Danny Benedict Gets Set for a Second Season of Late Model Action
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
When he first made the transition from the Mini Stock ranks to the Late Model division at Sunset Speedway, Danny Benedict – who earned the nickname ‘Showstopper’ after winning the final regular season Mini Stock features run at Kawartha Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – knew he’d have a lot to learn about his new ride and a fresh field of competition. With an overall point finish of 11th, out of the 35 drivers who ran at least one main event at the venue north of Toronto, he ran a memorable year. To call his inaugural season a success would be the ultimate understatement.
“It was a great experience and a lot of fun, but you just can’t sit still in this sport,” said the youngster who celebrated his 20th birthday in September. “The car we ran in 2016 was sold and went to its new home a couple of weeks after the last event of the year. For the first time in a number of years, there wasn’t a racecar in our garage that needed to be worked on, but that will change in a big way.”
After a busy race season, the break may have been nice but the Benedict Racing shop in Orono, Ontario will once again become a hive of activity, as the team takes delivery of their new car – a 2017 Shaw Racing Chassis – that is currently being prepared in Jason Shaw’s home shop and will ready to roll in time for the season opening green flag. Danny Benedict says they’re looking forward to hitting the track and improving on the strong finishes they logged during the 2016 campaign.
“Our team has enjoyed a great friendship with the Shaw family over the last few years,” said Benedict, who has been working at Hydro One since graduating from the Power Line Technician program at Algonquin College. “Scott, Randy and Jason Shaw were a huge help during our transition from the Mini Stock ranks to our first season in the Late Model division. When it came time to put together the deal for a new car, they were the first place we looked.”
While the Shaw Racing Chassis may not be as well-known as those produced by other car builders in the field, it’s a proven piece on the race track, scoring a few championships, race wins, top 5 and top 10 finishes since the first edition came off the jig.
In addition to heading into the season with a new car, the Benedict Racing #54 team is also looking for additional sponsorship support to join their marketing partnerships. Danny Benedict will return to NASCAR Weekly Racing at Sunset Speedway, with additional starts tentatively scheduled as time and resources permit throughout the year. Primary, secondary, associate and product packages are available to suit any budget. For more information, contact danny.benedict@hotmail.com.
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