What started as an ambitious plan to race four tracks in four days turned into three nights of racing, nearly 2,800 kilometres on the road, countless hours in the pits and campground, and memories that will last a lifetime.
The goal was simple: load up the race car, gather the crew, hit the road and take on four different tracks across Ontario in four days.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.
The adventure came to an end after night three when the weather forced the cancellation of the final stop at Sauble Speedway. But despite not completing all four races, the trip was everything the team had hoped it would be—and more.
“The whole experience was an absolute blast,” the driver said. “The best way I can describe it is, imagine loading up a camper with your best buddies and your dad, hitting the road for a few days, and just so happening to bring a race car along for the ride.”
That was exactly what the trip became. The team raced hard every night, spent their days travelling to the next track, worked on the car in the pits and campground, fired up the barbecue and made memories along the way.
“We raced hard every night, spent our days travelling to the next track, worked on the car in the pits and campground, fired up the barbecue, and made memories that we’ll be talking about for years.”
So, what made them decide to take on such an ambitious racing road trip?
The answer is pretty simple.
“I’ve never climbed out of a race car after the checkered flag and not immediately wanted to do it again. If I could race every day, I would.”
The trip was an opportunity to experience new tracks, race against new competitors, challenge themselves as a team and, most importantly, spend several days doing what they love.
Laird Raceway: No Place Like Home
The journey began at Laird Raceway, and for the team, there was something special about starting the adventure at home.
“There’s honestly no place like home,” the driver said. “I love the track. It’s always so cool to run in front of your friends, family and sponsors and we always run strong there.”
The team showed just how strong they could be on opening night, putting together race-winning pace and earning the pole position.
However, the challenge came once the green flag dropped.
The team struggled to work through traffic quickly enough and, with five laps remaining, the car was sent to the rear of the field. Despite the setback, they refused to give up and fought their way back to a sixth-place finish.
“Sometimes that’s racing,” the driver said.
While the final result wasn’t what they were hoping for, the performance provided plenty of confidence heading into the rest of the trip.
“We brought the car home sixth after being sent to the rear with five to go and left knowing we had a fast piece to start the trip.”
Delaware Speedway: A Whole Different Animal
After leaving home, the team headed to Delaware Speedway, where they quickly discovered they were entering an entirely different challenge.
“Delaware was a whole different animal,” the driver explained.
The team struggled during practice and found themselves well off the pace. But rather than getting discouraged, the crew went to work making adjustments and improving the car.
At the same time, the driver realized he had to change his approach behind the wheel.
“I realized I needed to get up on the wheel and drive the thing harder.”
The size and speed of Delaware Speedway required some adjustment, but the team continued to battle throughout the night.
The result was a 12th-place finish out of 28 cars—one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip.
The performance was made even more impressive by the level of competition and the team’s ability to adapt throughout the night.
The driver also had plenty of praise for Delaware Speedway itself.
“I also have to give a huge shoutout to the facility. Everything was run incredibly professionally and organized. It was a top-notch experience from start to finish.”
Flamboro Speedway: Another Tough Test
The third stop was Flamboro Speedway, where the National Compact Touring Series brought another incredibly competitive field to the track.
“We knew we’d have to bring our A-game.”
The team unloaded with strong speed during practice and appeared to have another competitive car underneath them.
But as the night progressed, the car slowly began to move away from the setup they had found earlier in the evening.
“We chased the setup with a few adjustments but just couldn’t get back to where we started.”
Still, the team continued to dig in and race hard against one of the toughest fields they had faced during the trip.
When the checkered flag flew, they finished 14th out of 26 cars.
It wasn’t the result they had hoped for, but it was another valuable night of experience at a new track and another opportunity to compete against some of the best drivers in the division.
Sauble Speedway: Mother Nature Wins
After three consecutive nights of racing, the team was set to complete the ultimate challenge: four tracks in four days.
There was just one problem—Mother Nature.
The weather ultimately forced the cancellation of the Sauble Speedway stop, ending the team’s four-track challenge after three nights.
The driver summed it up perfectly:
“Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. The only way we were going to race at Sauble was if somebody let us borrow a canoe.”
While the team didn’t get the chance to complete all four races, the three they did run provided plenty of memories and, perhaps more importantly, plenty of proof that the hard work over the past year is paying off.
The Biggest Victory: How Far the Team Has Come
For the driver, the biggest storyline from the entire trip wasn’t necessarily a finishing position.
It was the realization of just how much the team has improved.
“Last year, we came down here just trying to stay out of everyone’s way and keep the car in one piece,” he said. “This year, we were racing with the same guys who were lapping us a season ago.”
That progress put the past year of work into perspective.
The team has spent countless hours working on the car, learning, improving and finding more speed. The results of that work were evident throughout the road trip.
And while the 12th-place finish at Delaware stood out as the best result, it meant much more to the team than simply another number on the finishing sheet.
“Driving to 12th at Delaware against that level of competition was definitely the highlight. That wasn’t a win on paper, but for our team that felt like a huge accomplishment.”
The trip also provided an opportunity to race alongside drivers who have set the benchmark for the level the team wants to reach.
Drivers such as Jacob Sutcliffe, Doug Butler and Matt Young stood out.
“Unless you’re standing at the fence watching them, it’s hard to explain just how fast those guys are,” the driver said. “They’re unbelievably smooth, they never seem to make mistakes, and they make speed look effortless.”
Getting the chance to race on the same tracks as drivers of that calibre offered a new perspective on just how competitive the sport can be.
It also provided motivation.
“We proved we belonged on the same track, and now the goal is to keep closing that gap.”
You Don’t Need a $100,000 Race Car to Go Racing
After four planned tracks, three completed races and nearly 2,800 kilometres of travel, the team came away with a message they hope other racers and race fans take to heart.
You don’t need a massive budget to go racing.
“You don’t need a $100,000 Late Model, a fancy stacker trailer, or a professional pit crew to go racing.”
The team travelled with an enclosed trailer carrying the race car and a 20-year-old camper. They raced three different tracks in three days and were prepared to make it four in four if the weather had cooperated.
The message is simple: if you have a race car that fits the rules, take it to the track.
“Racetracks want new cars to show up. They want new faces in the pits.”
Travelling to new tracks creates opportunities to meet new people, race against drivers you’ve only watched online and create memories that stay with you long after the final checkered flag.
“Don’t wait until everything is perfect, because it never will be.”
And if given the opportunity, the driver wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.
“I’d do this trip again tomorrow if I could.”
Every new track offers a lesson. Every lap provides another opportunity to improve. And every road trip serves as another reminder of why racing became such a passion in the first place.
A Race Team, Not Just a Group of Friends
A trip like this doesn’t happen with one person.
It takes a crew willing to spend long days on the road, late nights in the pits, early mornings at the campground and countless hours working underneath a race car to make sure everything is ready for the next event.
For this trip, that crew included Dayne Lorenzo, Martin Valiquette, Lucas Fabbricino, John Pinder, Ian Lanteigne, Lexi and Emily.
“We spent countless hours on the road, in the pits, in campgrounds, and under the car making sure we were ready for the next race.”
There was always someone willing to jump in and help, whether it was working on the car, preparing for the next race or simply keeping the team moving from one track to another.
“This wasn’t just a group of friends this weekend…this was a race team, and I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together.”
Thank You to the Sponsors
A road trip of this size also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the sponsors who believed in the team and the ambitious idea from the beginning.
A special thank you goes to George Stone and Sons Inc., Kelly’s Parkway, Zalewski Concrete Construction, Cambrian Dental, Construction Equipment Co., Johnsons RV, Algoma Engineering, Rennison Well Drilling, Viotto and Sons Construction, Atlas Auto Parts, and Uncle Chuckie with The Equipment Doctor.
“Thank you for believing in this crazy idea. Without your support, there is no way we could have loaded up the trailer and chased this dream across Ontario.”
Every sponsor logo on the car represents someone who believed in the team and helped make the adventure possible.
“I hope we made you proud this week.”
Thank You to Everyone Who Followed Along
The support didn’t stop with the sponsors and crew.
Throughout the trip, people back home followed along, sent messages, made calls, shared posts, showed up at the track and cheered the team on from afar.
“The amount of messages, phone calls, and support I received over the last few days was honestly overwhelming.”
After long days on the road and at the track, those messages meant even more.
“I had no idea I had that many people behind me, and reading those messages after long days on the road meant more than you’ll ever know.”
No Trophy, But Something Even More Valuable
The team set out with an ambitious goal: four tracks, four days and nearly 2,800 kilometres.
Mother Nature stopped them one race short.
But in the end, the trip was never only about trophies.
They came home with three races completed, valuable experience at new tracks, a 12th-place finish at Delaware against a highly competitive field, proof that the team has made major progress since last season and countless memories shared with friends, family and crew.
“We didn’t bring home a trophy, but we brought home something just as valuable—memories we’ll never forget, proof that we belong, and even more motivation to keep chasing this dream.”
The road trip may be over, but the pursuit isn’t.
“From the bottom of my heart…thank you, every single one of you.”
We’ll be back.
