RPW’s “The Ten” With Olden Dwyer

Column By: RYAN HILL / RPW – BENNINGTON , VT – Modified driver Olden Dwyer straps in for today’s installment of RPW’S THE TEN. Olden is a 23-year-old driver out of Bennington, VT who is heading into his 9th season racing DIRT Modifieds.

His career started at 15, running a partial season in Sportsman. The following year he won his first ever feature on Opening Night in only his 5th time behind the wheel of a race car.

Two seasons ago he put together a Big Block Modified and Olden has high hopes for the 2017 season, where he will be running his Big Block and Small Block Modifieds weekly at Lebanon Valley. He has hopes to run a few other shows that he and his team will announce later in the season.

1- WHY ARE YOU # 88?
I grew up watching my dad race, and he was the number 88. As a little kid watching him he was my hero, so I wanted to be the #88 as well.

2- WHAT TYPE OF RACE CAR WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRIVE?
Without a doubt I would want to stay on dirt. I would love to drive a sprint car; I would love to have that much horsepower in a vehicle that is so light.

3-WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST RACING MOMENT?
I have many moments that I am proud of, it is hard to say which my proudest moment is, Super Dirt Week in 2014 was special. I was able to start The Salute To The Troops 150 with a crew full of young guys my age.

4- WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASING RACING MOMENT?
That was last year when I was running 2nd and ran out of gas. It would have been my best ever finish in a Big Block Modified.

5- WHAT RACE WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN THE MOST?
I would have to say Mr. DIRT Track USA at Lebanon Valley Speedway. If you look at the list of winners it is an elite list of names that I would be proud to have my name next to.

6- HOW DID YOU START RACING?
My Dad bought me two Karts from Alex Bell, and we raced them at a few different tracks around my Dad’s racing schedule. It did not take me long to know that I wanted to be in a modified. I raced the Karts for a season and a half and then we bought a sportsman car for the next season.

7- WHAT IS A “BUCKET LIST” TRACK FOR YOU TO RACE AT?
I would say Eldora. I love it because it is one of the most well known dirt tracks across the country, and it just flat out looks like a lot of fun !!

8- WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AS A DRIVER?
I don’t wreck a lot of equipment, and I don’t take stupid chances.

9- WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES AS A DRIVER?
My #1 weakness is not being as aggressive as I should be. I feel I could have won a few more races had I been a little more aggressive when I needed to be.

10- WHAT HAS YOUR OFF SEASON BEEN LIKE?
My off season has been pretty crazy because I worked all winter buying parts and trying to re build the cars. I don’t have a huge budget that allows me to go buy everything at once and build them right away. I have to work very hard to buy all the parts over time. I have to thank all my family and all my guys who work very hard every day to help me make all this happen.

Olden also wants to thank his sponsors: Dwyer’s State Line Beer and Wine, Scott Morse Logging, G&G Dry Wall, Eckert Construction, Advance Auto Parts and RL Stalker Excavating.