Category: Featured Other Series

When Davey Terry started the season with the OSCAAR Modifieds, there were a lot of questions of how the rookie would do.

“We were real late getting into the modified deal,” Davey Terry said. “My dad came up with the idea real late to get a car, with pretty much a month left. It was kind of a mad thrash to get the car done. Started the season with no practice on the car, no laps at all. We didn’t have any goals when the season started. We set goals as the season went on.”

By the end of the season, Terry answered the skeptics as he took home the OSCAAR Modified Rookie of the Year Award while finishing third in points.

For the Erin, Ontario native, he says the turning point to his season was the top five finish at Varney Motor Speedway mid-season.

“It wasn’t a track that I thought I’d do really well at because I never really did well there in a mini stock,” Terry said during the 2013 Canadian Motorsports Expo. “With a little guidance from guys like Gary McLean and Brent McLean had a huge impact on me.”

Terry picked up many lessons through the season and one of the important lessons was patience.

“Just make sure you take care of your equipment and everything else falls into place,” he said.

In learning those lessons, there were driver that Terry went to for advice.

“Anyone who’s last name is McLean,” Terry said. “They’ve been racing modifieds forever. It’s such a great group of guys. You can almost go to anyone and get some advice. Everybody will help each other out.”

While it marked the first year for Terry in the Modified ranks, it was also the first ever season for the Modifieds under the OSCAAR banner, touring around Ontario.

“I think it exceeded expectations,” he said. “I think it was neat to see all of the drivers come out of the wood works.”

Terry also sees growth for the 2013 season, noting the number of drivers that have contacted series director Dave Gainforth looking to how to buy a car to get started.

“It’s just good news for OSCAAR in general,” Terry added. “The cars, they look cool and everyone wants to drive one now so it’s good news for everybody.”

One thing that Terry would like to see maybe is one race have a time trials worked in deciding the starting line-up rather than double heats.

“Well, some fans don’t like time trials – they like heat races,” Terry started. “So what I’d like to see is time trials and then 1 set of heats so fans can have the best of both worlds. I’d like to see time trials for the added challenge.”

With the success in 2012, there’s one thing that the sophomore driver wants to accomplish in 2013 – winning his first modified race. That win may come early in the season after he ended the season with a second in Sunset’s Velocity 250 and a fifth at Autumn Colors.

Earlier this year, NASCAR K&N West Series Competitor Bobby Grewohl announced a new sponsorship deal with the H2M Beverage Company to represent their 989 On-Demand product.

“I really feel very honored and lucky to be involved with the H2M Beverage family and represent their company and products,” Grewohl said in an interview. “The owners are very genuine and caring people and I feel very privileged to be part of their team.”

“This partnership works for us on multiple levels,” said Greg Piagesi, co-founder of H2M and SVP, Sales. “Over the three-year term, it offers us nearly 19,000 sku slots nationwide, significantly increasing our distribution. And as title sponsor of Bobby’s racing team, the design of the car, hauler, team fire suit, and helmet can offer our retail partners great exposure to NASCAR’s loyal fan base.”

989 On-Demand is a drink that is designed to replenish and rehydrate you with all-natural ingredients.

“989 On-Demand is a great product and it does what it is advertised to do,” Grewohl added. “I like the product very much and honestly recommend it to everyone.  It is 100% natural and zero calories, which makes it a perfect fit for my current training regimen.”

The product fits well with Grewohl as he says NASCAR drivers are just like any athletes out there.

“The conditions in the car are really intense with temperatures that can reach 140 degrees, high g-forces and high speed for a long time,” he said. “You have to train for this like any other athlete trains for their sport.  If you do not properly train you will not have chance at being successful.”

Grewohl says he trains because when he was younger, he lost a race due to not having the strength and energy to finish it. It’s also good to train and work out because it can help on the mechanical side in setting up the car.

“The race car is relatively light weight,” Grewohl explained. “Having a driver that is in good shape and not over weight is also good as it will allow more opportunities for distribution of weight in the race car which gives the engineer more options for balancing or setting up the car.”

Grewohl works closely with his trainer Al Tortorelli to always take his workouts a step further. Some highlights of the current workout include spending three hours training each day including 40 minutes in a sauna, a heavy core workout (abs, back), running, cycling and lifting weights.

“He has me doing a 40 to 60 minute workout in a sauna to simulate the conditions in the race car,” he said. “I do not do this without a doctor’s supervision. I want to be able to perform at a consistent level under extreme conditions so it is important that I have the support, right tools and products to help me stay healthy and replenish what I’m losing during my training and racing.”

The drink 989 On-Demand works perfectly with keeping fit and being ready as it helps replenish electrolytes that are lost when we sweat. For NASCAR drivers, they lose an average 10 to 12 pounds in weight per race alone due to sweat alone.

“The body loses more than just water when we sweat,” Nutritionist Dr. Tricia Psota said. “Valuable electrolytes are eliminated through sweat as well. Where vitamins and minerals pass through the bloodstream and urine, electrolytes are eliminated through sweat.”

To go with the sponsorship deal, Grewohl will run a car numbered “9”89, which makes it the first three digit car in NASCAR history.  They will ghost the 9, but it will be visible at all times.

Along with running the K&N West Series, Grewohl will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut later this season at Iowa Speedway for Joe Nemechek and NEMCO Racing.

“I am really excited and looking forward to the track and race,” he said. “I am also thankful and honored to be driving for and representing Joe Nemechek and NEMCO Racing.  I will be focusing on finishing the race and trying my best to get the car into the winners circle.  Finishing up front is always the goal.”

Grewohl says the experience from previously will benefit going forth due to Iowa Speedway being a one mile oval.

“Racing with 36 plus other drivers at high speed, definitely sharpens your skills and when racing in close quarters you have to take care of your equipment in order to finish,” he added.

Grewohl got interested in racing at a young age, through watching races as a kid with his father.

“One year, I asked my dad if I could get a motor cycle or a go-kart,” Grewohl explained. “I was able to choose one and I chose the go-kart.  After lots of practice in the parking lot of the local high school, I finished third in my class at my first race in Sacramento, CA.  I was hooked from that moment and decided this is what I wanted to do. I haven’t looked back since.”

Since then, Grewohl has found success each step of the way, catching the attention of Chip Ganassi. Ganassi called Grewohl in 2003 to ask the then 17-year-old to come drive for him.

“Well, I actually thought it was a joke,” Grewohl said. “I got call from a number I didn’t recognize and I didn’t actually believe it until I was put on hold and I heard a recording of all their wins playing in the background.  The fact that Chip made a point to call me himself was incredible.  I soon packed my bags and went to start training with the team. That call was a dream come true.”

In his racing career to date, Grewohl has had many memorable moments, including a special test at Kentucky Motor Speedway.

“I had been invited to Kentucky Motor Speedway where I was to test for my Indy Racing League driver’s license,” he said. “Brian Barnhart and Tony George were there.  I had never been at this track or driven an Indy Pro Series Car.  They are testing you to see how you listen, follow directions, how attentive you are and how you interact with the engineers. I took the car out for a couple of shakedown laps and was told to bring it back in.  How you enter and leave the pits is also being looked at.

“After checking the car, they sent me back out and turned me loose. I was given my IRL License on my 3^rd lap and broke the previous year’s qualifying lap record on my 6^th lap.  It doesn’t get any better than this for a kid with dreams of racing professionally.”

To others who want to get into racing, Grewohl says the key is to make sure to listen to those who have had success before you.

“Learn all you can, don’t be afraid to ask questions,” he said. “Be respectful of everyone, always be humble and let your driving do the talking.  Earn your respect on and off the track.  Racing is a world where everyone knows everyone so make sure you always leave a good impression.  Never give up on your goals.”

Last year, Gary McLean had an OSCAAR season to remember, winning the first ever OSCAAR Modified Championship with eight victories in 12 starts. McLean had only one finish outside of the top five, which came at Sauble Speedway after suffering a flat tire early in the race and then contact later on.

McLean was one of the early season favorites, having raced Modifieds for a long time and being Varney Motor Speedway’s all-time Modified race winner.

There was some uncertainty going into the season as there were tracks that McLean hadn’t raced yet. That didn’t faze him as he won at some of those, including the season opener at Sunset Speedway after a battle with Barry Newman.

“We weren’t worried,” McLean said at this past weekend’s Canadian Motorsports Expo. “The other guys were coming in and we were more experienced than they were.”

Throughout the season, there were many memorable battles, including battles McLean had with his cousin Brent.

“He ran second to us every night, if he didn’t hit the wall trying to get to us,” McLean commented. “Overall, all the guys in that series are good racers and I’m looking forward to next year.”

Many note that the Modifieds have always produced this solid racing, but it was OSCAAR’s backing that added the final touch to the product.

“It was a huge success,” McLean said. “Brought a lot of people out to see the modifieds. They can put on good races and a lot of people didn’t think that and OSCAAR brought everything out there, laid it out for us and it worked.”

Heading into the second season for the OSCAAR Mods, McLean sees the racing being even better.

“With the racing that went on, a lot of guys have bought cars for this year,” McLean said. “Those guys are talented and I think you’re going to see good racing.”

For his efforts, Gary McLean was listed in the 10^th spot in Spencer Lewis’ 2012 Inside Track Motorsports News Ontario Asphalt Short Track Power Rankings. He was recognized for his success as part of the 2013 Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday February 9^th.