Laird gearing up for new racing season

It's the day local racing fans have been waiting for all winter long. The first race of the season at Laird International Raceway.

Despite losing some quality racers over the past few seasons including Michael Gold, who is set to race on the CASCAR circuit this season, the returning racers still provide fans with some quality talent on the track.

This year will see some new faces in a few divisions as well as some veterans making their way up, including last year's Factory Stock points champion David Slingsby.

Slingsby, who won the Factory Stock Division by 27 points over John Fragale last summer, is nearing the completion of his new ride for the Late Model Division, which he co-owns with friend Chris Jarrell. A few modifications and the car will be complete.

"It's exciting (with the new season ready to start)," Slingsby said. "We've got a new car with the same colours we had. It's been built to suit me. It's built for me and nobody else. It felt like driving factory stock but bigger and with more horsepower. It's a new car and we've just got to get used to it."

"We just finished the car last week in time for the Test and Tune (last Thursday)."

Slingsby added that he is excited to make the jump in divisions, something he has been hoping for.

"For five years I've been wondering what it would be like to race (in the Late Model Division)," he said. "I'm excited. We're going to learn by being out there. We're going to learn from guys like (Rob Hiiemaa and George Wilson)."

Despite the jump in divisions, Slingsby said he feels confident and will likely use a similar strategy to the one that earned him the points title in Factory Stock last season – patience – in which he holds back early before making a move to the head of the pack.

Slingsby will get his first chance to test his new car for real when the season officially kicks off on Thursday, weather permitting. All five divisions, from the Late Model to Stock Four, will continue this season, with many new and familiar faces in action.

Some reported newcomers to the Late Model Division include I-500 snowmobile winner Cory Furkey as well as Slingsby. Many veterans will also be returning to duty including the likes of George Wilson, Rick Leonard, and Roddy Bolduc.

The Factory Stock Division will see Fragale look to take over the points title from the departed Slingsby.

The Modified Division will see some Laird veterans making the transition to the new division as the likes of Joe Addison, who was the Pure Stock Champion last season, and Jordan Simms join last year's Modified champion Kevin Oicle as well as Larry Ebare.

The Pure Stock Division will see veterans Bob Laphew and Norm Miller look to take the title while newcomer Nate Gallagher will also look to be in the title hunt.

As always, the Stock Four Division will feature a number of new racers in the Laird circuit as well.

Race time for the season opener on Thursday is 7 p.m.

(PHOTO: David Slingsby enjoying the comforts of his new ride. Additional pictures are posted in the photo gallery below.)