Getting Up To Speed With…David Day
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Ken O’Neil)
Although he has only race for a handful of years David Day has been around racing his whole life. Originally from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, now living in the Portland suburb of Tualatin, Day looks to travel around the Pacific Northwest in 2014. But if funding allows he would like to compete fulltime at the Sunset Speedway Park in Banks in his Jerry’s Extreme Machine/Arrow Frame and Alignment/Aliante Casino and Hotel #30A BMS entry.
A lifelong fan of Bob Forster Jr. growing up in the American Southwest Day’s ultimate goal this year is to travel back down to his homeland and compete at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas for the annual Duel In The Desert at the end of the season. Now let’s get up to speed with David Day.
Driver: David Day
Home Track: Sunset Speedway Park
Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon
Occupation: I.T. Manager
Age: 24
Years Racing: 5
Classification: IMCA
Team: Day Brothers Racing
Car: 30A
Chassis: Belleville Motor Sports
Sponsors: Jerry’s Extreme Machine of Pahrump, Nevada, Arrow Frame and Alignment, Aliante Casino and Hotel of Las Vegas, Nevada, The Fab Shop, West Coast Graphics and Vinyl Signs, Perfection Automotive
Special Thanks: Bryan Day (Brother) and Winn Day (Mother), Bob Forster Jr., Tom Berry Sr., Tom Berry Jr., All The Drivers That Have Helped
BD: Well David what are the big plans for 2014?
DD: Our plans for this year is make some of the bigger events. If we can get enough sponsors we will make all the Modified races at Banks. But we are going to try and run Willamette Speedway for the first time too. Our ultimate goal is running the “Duel In The Desert” race in Las Vegas at the end of the year.
BD: How did your racing career begin?
DD: My family has been a fan of racing for a long time and we really followed Bob Forster Jr. for a long time. I moved up here from Arizona in 2009 after my brother called me up and wanted know if I’d like to start racing. I jumped at the chance.
BD: What is the story of your #30A?
DD: The story is Bob Forster Jr. had that number and he is a big name in the Southwest where I grew up. Every time you heard the crowd go wild you knew Bob was at the track. My family was big supporters of his and unfortunately he stopped racing due to some medical problems.
He ended up asking my brother if we wanted the car and trailer, so my brother and mom jumped at the chance and surprised me with what car we were actually getting. I knew we were getting a race car but I didn’t know it was that race car. Then we got permission to keep running his number.
BD: Last year you hit some different race tracks. Did you think that helped you as a driver?
DD: Yeah, it definitely helped us a ton. It teaches us different types of setups to use in different situations and conditions. Fortunately for us when we went to CGS the Berry family were there and they really helped us out a ton with our short track program.
BD: What are some goals that you have set for yourself?
DD: Just really to figure the dirt stuff out. I’ve always wanted to be in a Modified and run dirt. Our biggest goal is to be the fastest we can be and be competitive. Hopefully in the future we can land some big sponsors and go on to do some bigger things.
Sunset Speedway Park enters the 2014 season with an action packed schedule that you do not want to miss out on. The first event of the season is a test and tune play day scheduled to take place on Saturday April 5th while the first race of the year will be held on the 19th. To get the latest information and read the most recent stories regarding SSP log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.