As the Atlantic Regional Drivers Championship approaches, driver Todd Trites is hoping luck is on his side to help transform his colours from red, black and white to
red and white.
Trites, the leading driver at Truro Raceway in 2010 for wins, enjoyed one of his top seasons last year having won 168 races in total and earned $239,648. He will be joined by fellow New Brunswick representative Gilles Barrieau in Saturday's regionals at Charlottetown Driving Park along with Ken Arsenault, Marc Campbell, and Gary Chappell from P.E.I., Ryan Campbell, Robert Laffin, and Danny Romo from Nova Scotia, and Shane Forward from Newfoundland.
“It would nice to be able to represent New Brunswick and be one of the top two and make it to the next round. That would be the first goal and then if I was lucky enough to make it to there then it’s kind of a whole different deal,” said the 42-year-old resident of Penniac, N.B. “It would be pretty amazing to have a chance to represent Canada. I said to my wife, I was never big enough or talented enough to play hockey so it’s the only real chance I have to wear the colours for Canada.”
Trites, who has competed in the regionals before, will have the support of his friends and family including his wife, Paula, and four daughters, like any other day at the track.
“They were excited that I had a chance to go again. The luck of the draw is a big thing because there are so many talented guys. All the guys going are good drivers. A lot of my family is going to be there to cheer us on.”
Trites admitted that he has only had a brief look at the program for Saturday’s card to see the format of the challenge, but noted that he is unfamiliar with many of his mounts.
“I just looked at it real quick to see if the format was the same where one driver gets each post position and I actually didn’t look at it again once they put the odds up. I’m not real familiar with those horses. Although I drive in the summertime, I don’t drive a lot of the overnight horses on a regular basis so until I get a chance to sit down and look at the program they’re just kind of numbers.
“It looks like Gilles [Barrieau] got a pretty good draw and he’s also representing New Brunswick,” added Trites. “So hopefully at least one of us, if not both of us, can make it.”
With snow in the forecast for this weekend in Charlottetown, the drivers may be faced with an added obstacle.
“I hope we have decent weather. It kind of sounds like we might have some questionable weather but hopefully we can have a good time and can get people out to watch.”
The designated championship races are Races 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Drivers receive points based on their finishing position in each race, and the top two point earners will compete in the National Driving Championship on Saturday, May 7, also at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park, to determine Canada’s representative to the World Driving Championship.
Post time for Saturday’s first race is 1:00 p.m.
Click here to view Saturday’s complete entries.