This Saturday night Speedway 660 hosts the Firecracker 150. Some of the best Sportsman drivers in the Maritimes will visit the Geary Woods for the big race. Dawson McIntee, who is running for our 2014 rookie of the year award, is excited about the longest race of his young career. Wade Wilson recently had a chat with Dawson.
Talkin with Dawson McIntee
Wade: Hey Dawson, your having a pretty good season. I’ll bet you are still pretty pumped about winning a Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature earlier this season.
Dawson: Yeah I’m still pumped! I still can’t believe I won, in only my second start in a Sportsman car. We are having a pretty good season so far if you don’t count the pole incident!
Ouch! Dawson climbs out of his race-car after snapping the pole that was holding up the McKay Builders sign.
Wade: What’s it like jumping out of a Bando and into a Sportsman and what kind of adjustments did you have to make as a driver when you got behind the wheel of the bigger car?
Dawson: Mechanically it is a big learning process for my Dad and I but jumping out of a Bando and going into a sportsman was actually easier than I thought it would be. I had to make few adjustments especially getting used to the throttle, the brakes and the space the car takes up on the track. It’s a lot easier to go three or four wide in a Bando!
In only his second start of the season Dawson McIntee celebrates a Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature win. Dawson is one of three former Bando drivers going for the 2014 Sportman Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
Wade: It’s pretty amazing that Alexandra O’Blenis, Drew Greenlaw and you all graduated from Bando at the same time and are now competing for the Sportsman rookie of the year award.
Dawson: You’ve got that right. Bando is a great class that produces talented drivers like Alexandra and Drew. They both are great drivers and I have fun racing with them. It is making for the most interesting Sportsman rookie points battle that we’ve seen at Speedway 660 in the last several years.
Dawson and his Dad Kevin spend a lot of time under the hood of the race car. Their hard work and Dawson’s talent has combined to make for a great rookie season.
Wade: How did running a Bando prepare you for what you are doing now and would you recommend other kids get involved in this sport when they are ten and under?
Dawson: I would totally recommend for other kids to go racing. Its a lot of fun and it teachers you a lot. But the best part is all the new friends I have made in racing. The Bando has prepared me for close and intense racing and not to over drive the Sportsman car in high pressure situations.
Bando racing has given kids like Dawson an opportunity to develop their skills and use their talent to get the experience they need to move to the higher divisions.
Wade: Speedway 660 has got a lot of kids in every Division. How do you feel about being a part of our youth movement?
Dawson: I feel good about being a part of the youth movement. I just turned 15, but started racing when I was six with the Speedway 660 Kart Racing Club. It was a lot of fun and I was fortunate to be able to pick up two regional championships along the way. My Dad played a big role in getting Bando’s started at 660. I raced go-karts with most of the other young kids who have moved on to the other divisions. We’ve become good friends over the years. All of us have a lot of passion for the sport and I believe that will make for a strong future for stock-car racing across the Maritimes.
This 15 year old kid can wheel a race car! Dawson McIntee was good in a go-kart and Bando, but has taken his game to a whole new level now that he has moved up to Sportsman.
Wade: This weekend, you’ll race 150 laps. That’s gonna be tough on the car and driver. How are you going to prepare for this race?
Dawson: No doubt it’s going to be hard on me and the car. I learned a lot in the Martins Home Heating 100 a few weeks ago. That race showed the weak points in our car and it also gave me an idea of some of the things I have to work on as a driver. So hopefully the car will be better this time around and I hope to improve my performance too. I think we are going to be in good shape for the 150.
Wade: Racing is a family sport and that is especially true for our youngest drivers. You kids really rely on Moms and Dads and other family members to help you go racing every week.
Dawson: If it wasn’t for my Mom and Dad, I wouldn’t be racing. They are incredible and have done so much to help me get to where I am in my racing career. My Grandparents have also been there with me through the years, helping sponsor track time and helping with the cost of car parts and other equipment. My other family, the O’Blenis family, have helped me a lot too and I am lucky to have them involved in my racing.
Dawson makes an inside move on his friend Drew Greenlaw (#23). Drew, who won our 2013 Bando championship, is another awesome Sportsman rookie.
Wade: You need some good sponsors and a great crew to run a competitive Sportsman car. Who helps you out in those areas?
Dawson: I’ve got to thank my Dad Kevin, my Mom Tammy, my Grandparents Debbie and Roger Allain and Aunt Michelle for being at the track every week and supporting me. I also want to thank my friends and the fans who cheer me on. I have to send a big thank-you out to my crew: Dad and Shawn who work on the car and Rodney Ogilvie, my spotter. And of course a big thank-you to my sponsors, Craig Carr Auto, O’Blenis Auto Body, Controls & Equipment and James Towing. Also none of this would be possible without Craig Carr who owns the car. I really want to thank Craig for giving me this opportunity. Without his support there’s no way I would be in a Sportsman car this year. And finally a special thank-you to Dave O’Blenis for his technical support and driver development program.
Dave O’Blenis is a positive role model for Dawson McIntee. Alexandra (right), Dave’s oldest daughter, is competing against Dawson and Drew for that Sportsman rookie award.
Wade: Thanks for doing this Dawson and good luck this weekend!
Dawson: Thanks Wade, I plan to put the “Fire” in the Firecracker 150 this weekend. It will be a great show for sure, have a good weekend.
