Column: Graham Racing’s Ready For The Year’s First Road Trip Adventure
Column By: JIM CLARKE / GRAHAM RACING – ORONO, ONT – Local racers like Craig and Brandt Graham spend the off-season getting their equipment ready for the upcoming season and then can’t wait to get them dirty. While COVID-19 kept the father and son duo from Orono, Ontario from turning even a single lap during the 2020 schedule, the pair says they’ve never been better prepared for the year’s initial green flag, whenever and wherever it might happen.
During 2019, the Graham Racing drivers were regulars in the Late Model and Canadian Modified divisions at Brighton Speedway. With the inspiration and confidence that came with Craig Graham’s Thunder Car and Late Model track championships at Peterborough Speedway and Brandt’s back-to-back Ontario Sportsman Series titles, they’ll get to a few test and tune sessions to gain some seat time, then aim for at least a couple of races a month at various tracks.
“While we were hoping to be able to travel to some different places and chase some of the high-profile Dirt Late Model paydays, it looks like the border will remain closed for the time being. We’ll be running a more Canadian schedule,” admitted Craig Graham. “Brandt and I have raced at the same track before, but we’ve never run against each other in the same class since we made the switch from asphalt racing to the dirt track wars 3 years ago. I think that will be fun and possibly create a little friendly family rivalry.”
The team will head into the 2021 dirt racing fray armed with a potent double-barrelled attack. Craig Graham’s No. 98 and Brandt Graham’s No. 14 Rocket Chassis racers will carry backing from long-time sponsors Arcade Pools, Full Circle Automation, J & M Restoration and Goat Transport. New this year, both cars will also have support from Beavis Excavating. Brandt Graham will also get exposure for the same marketing partners during a part-time schedule running the team’s asphalt Late Model at Peterborough Speedway.
In the shop and on the road, both cars are prepared and maintained by crew chief Marten Rottine, with Rick Rowe, Ted Stacey and Ian Graham.
