Wyatt Alexander Still Weighing Options For 2017 Season

Column By: MATTHEW WIERNASZ / RPW – ELLSWORTH, ME – Wyatt Alexander out of Ellsworth, ME does not have anything set in stone for the 2017 season. He does plan on racing a good amount of the Granite State Pro Stock Series schedule and a part time schedule at Wiscasset Speedway.

He has not gotten far into ironing out dates just yet. If he and his race team can make it happen, they would like run nearly the whole tour ideally every race but just might not be feasible. He is uncertain if he will run the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 1st.

The 2016 season was really tough for Alexander. The ups were pretty high and the downs were very low. He tore up his race cars more than usual from mechanical issues or on track incidents. Alexander looks back and thinks he could not do anything differently in each of those situations. He doesn’t have any regrets but some disappointment.

” It seemed like it was a lot of ridiculous stuff that kept biting us. Small mechanical things, weird things on the track. It was a crazy season. That being said, picking up a fairly big win at Wiscasset for a guaranteed starting spot at Seekonk was certainly a high note and when we got the car going. We ran pretty strong with PASS.” Alexander Said

He had two strong top 10 runs going throughout the year that he really believe could’ve provided for maybe even a top 5 finish but a late race restart where he got stuck on the outside at Oxford back in the spring and a blown motor at Speedway 95 were definitely unfortunate.

He can from behind in those races so he knows he has the drive ability and speed. They just need to get everything together. One of things he is looking for this upcoming season is consistency. Last year, he ran pretty well or had a DNF. As a team, they want make 2017 a smooth year and put the mechanical failures behinds them, keep the cars fast and race hard.

He learned a lot about himself as a driver last year and is looking to make big improvements in 2017.

” I feel if we can do all that if will be one of our best seasons yet. Its gonna take some hard work.” Alexander Said

Alexander is leaning towards not running the Oxford 250 this season. After a couple tough years there, they may focus on another bigger race this season and take a break from running the 250.

” The 250 is as tough as it gets and we’ve certainly experience that the two times we’ve attempted. That being said I am in no way giving up on that race. I will qualify for it someday. Maybe next year, maybe in 20 years but I am determined to run that race.” Alexander Said

The Oxford 250 has always had great and tough competition at the same time and seen some of biggest drivers win this prestigious event held once a year.

” If there are 60 cars there. 30 of them could win the race depending on where the casrds fall, and the rest are still incredibly competitive. The coolest thing about that race I think is its still possible for the weekly guys to run strong with the home track advantage. Oxford is a funky track and I feel like as a driver I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on it. It’s one of my favorite tracks for sure.” Alexander Said

Drivers that race at Oxford weekly are doing everything they can to make show and a lot of them end up being strong along with the PASS teams that come from all over the country.

” The track is a great equalizer because it is so different. It’s not high banked high speed oval where you need the best of everything to be competitive. More often than not if you know what the surface is going to do and how to keep the car setup for the track you will be strong. We don’t run there every week so we don’t have tabs on the track and don’t really know exactly what to do when the track changes with the conditions. It is one of the most sensitive tracks and is tough to keep up with at times.” Alexander Said

When Alexander hit the setup, he was fast and other times he would miss it a little bit. He is a small team and the resources aren’t limited to go with the tough competition is tough. He feels he is capable of running well in that race. Alexander feels he needs to develop more as team overall to be as prepared as possible for that race. He thinks a year off from the race will be a good thing.

Alexander will be graduating from Ellsworth High School on June 9th. Alexander will head to Charlotte, NC to go to UNC Charlotte where he will be majoring in Mechanical Motorsports Engineering. The ultimate goal would be to work for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team but he is keeping his mind and options open and see where it takes him. He could be put with a cup team or a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or Super Late Model team. That degree is also a good way to get in at a manufacturer where he feels it could be a cool gig for him building and designing for General Motors or Ford.

Racing is a family sport and it is certainly a family sport Wyatt’s father Brett and his grandfather Bob going over the setup of the car and Wyatt’s mother Jennifer and sister Quinn cheering Wyatt on during the races. Wyatt feels working with family isn’t always easy but it’s worth it.

” We are committed to doing it as a family and we really enjoy it. I couldn’t do it without them.” Alexander Said

His goals for the 2017 season are to really pull thing together and cut out as many errors as possible in the shop, in the pits, and on the track. Make things go as smoothly as possible and find a solid rhythm withtin the team and himself as a driver

” I think if that happens we will run strong and I will be in victory lane hopefully a few times.” Alexander Said