KAWARTHA SPEEDWAY: Dan McHattie is determined to defend his title

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

After a brief three-year hiatus from a seat at the champion’s table, Dan McHattie entered the 2008 Kawartha Speedway season with a simple goal – to reclaim the crown that belongs to the high point driver in the track’s late model division.  The 32 year-old racer from Cavan, Ontario may have started the year slowly, but when all the marbles were counted he was back at the top of the heap.

While McHattie says he enjoys the competition and loves the thrill that comes with winning, he has never considered himself a point’s racer.  If he runs 3rd or 4th on a week-to-week basis, the driver of the #71 Uniglass Plus Ziebart/Sidey Auto Supply/Corp Construction/ Douglas Automotive/Barry McLennan Masonary/Foxon Alternator and Starter/Praxair Peterborough Chevrolet says everything else will take care of itself.

“Other drivers can tell you exactly where they are in the standings and even where they need to finish in particular race to move-up another spot,” said McHattie.  “That’s not my style of racing.  I get in the car, fasten the belts and drive.  It’s all about having fun and putting on a show for the fans.  If you think too much about it, it’ll consume you and that’s never a good thing.”

The 2008 late model champion says nothing about his program has changed from last year.  The car, crew and sponsors are exactly the same.  While the plan right now is to concentrate on running Friday nights at Kawartha, the mechanic at Kerr Industries in Oshawa says he might also look at doing a bit of travelling to other tracks.

“I like to race and if we don’t have to spend a lot of time putting the car back together or doing extra work on a regular basis, that might make visiting some other tracks easier,” according to McHattie.  “My focus is Kawartha.  That’s where my sponsors, family and friends expect to see me race, so we’ll do everything we can to make sure things come together there before we even think about going anywhere else.”

Kawartha Speedway’s 2009 season kicks-off Friday, May 29th.  The OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models will join a regular night of Late Model, Thunder Car and Mini Stock action.  For full details on this year’s schedule – including the American-Canadian Tour Summer Sizzler Sunday, July 12th and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season finale Saturday, September 26th – see www.kawarthaspeedway.com.

Photo attachment:  (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
Dan McHattie turns a fast lap in his #71 Chevrolet at Kawartha Speedway.