Tristan Draper Continues to Learn as He Races With the DIRTcar Sportsman Series; First Ever Trip to Super DIRT Week Coming Up Next

The 2014 season hasn’t been easy for Tristan Draper and his Draper Racing team, but they have learned a lot along the way, especially in the bigger events with the DIRTcar Sportsman Series where he is gaining valuable experience racing against some of the best DIRTcar Sportsman teams from Ontario, Quebec and New York State.

The 17 year old Draper is just finishing up his first full season in the DIRTcar Sportsman ranks after getting started in the Rookie Sportsman class at the beginning of 2013. He has come a long way since then, and racing against the best will only help as he further develops his career. Last weekend he attended the DIRTcar Sportsman Series race at Mohawk Raceway, and although he didn’t qualify for the main event with 49 cars in attendance, he did run well, especially in the non qualifiers race where he came from deep in the field to finish fourth, and at once point appeared to have the fastest car on the track.

Draper continued on to Brighton Speedway this past weekend as the DIRTcar Sportsman Series visited the track. Draper looked strong in the opening practice, posting the second fastest speed in his group, but lost a little speed before time trials as he placed fifth, and lined up from that position for his qualifier. The car picked up a push in the opening laps of the qualifier, and Draper would go on to finish in eighth place. The 35 lap main event was up next and Draper would start at the back of the 30 car field. He patiently moved forward and by the end of the race he was up to 18th.

Draper will now begin preparation for Super DIRT Week, with events planned at Weedsport Speedway on October 8th, followed by the New York State Fairgrounds the rest of the week with practice, time trials, futures race, and the Sportsman 30 lap championship race taking place throughout the weekend.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Wraps up 2014 Regular Season With Events at Brockville Speedway and Cornwall; Big Events on the Horizon for Draper Racing

The last month of the season has been a little rough for Tristan Draper and the Draper racing team, with bad luck and wrong place at the wrong time effecting their finishes as the 2014 season unfolded down the stretch. They entered this weekend’s regular season finale looking to build some momentum, with several marquee events on the horizon for the Draper Racing team.

The night started off great for Draper on Saturday night, picking up a win in his qualifying heat race. The 25 lap main event looked promising as the 17 year old started from the third position, but an ill-handling car forced Draper back through the pack. It was a tough night, as they were scored with a 15th place finish.

After leaving Brockville, the team packed up and headed to Cornwall Speedway for what they expected to be a Sunday night event. An early Sunday afternoon storm forced track officials to make the decision to run on Labor Day Monday instead, and they were greeted with a hot and sunny Monday afternoon, making for extremely slick track conditions. With 44 cars in completion and only 30 spots up for grabs for the 40 lap main event, qualifying was going to be tough. Draper finished just one spot out of a transfer spot in the heat race, and was able to pick up the win in the first consolation event, earning the 21st starting spot for the big race. Unfortunately, Draper was at the wrong place at the wrong time in the opening laps, and his night ended very early in the race.

“It has been a bit of a struggle here lately, but we will keep working at it”, says Draper. “The end of the regular season may be over, but we still got quite a bit of racing left, and we are looking forward to some new adventures over the next few weeks”.

Tristan and the Draper Racing team plans to compete at Mohawk International Raceway next weekend for their Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series race on Saturday, September 13th. They will also race at the series race at Brighton Speedway on Friday, September 19th. They are putting together final plans to compete at Super DIRT Week on October 10-12th, and will finish out the campaign at Brockville Speedway for the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals on Saturday, October 18th.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Gets Second Consecutive Top Ten Finish at Brockville

The 2014 season entered its final month of the regular season this past weekend and Tristan Draper and his Draper Racing team were looking to build on their top 10 finish from the previous week and put together some good finishes over the final few weeks.

Draper began the night with a fourth place finish in his qualifier, and returned to the pit area to make some adjustments on his car before the 25 lap main event. The track conditions were extremely rough due to a late afternoon storm, but Draper persevered, battling to his second consecutive top 10 finish at Brockville. He crossed the line in eighth place, launching him into the top 10 in track points at the BOS with four events remaining.

“We did all we could tonight”, says Draper. The track was real fast tonight with all that rain we had earlier. We will take this top 10 finish and get ready to head to Cornwall tomorrow”.

Track conditions at Cornwall were just as bad, as it was very fast and very rough. He started last in his qualifier and finished in fifth place. Tristan also started at the back of his heat race, and avoided heavy damage on a lap one incident. He went on to finish 11th at Cornwall.

This coming weekend Tristan will be back at Brockville for the final round of the Ogilvie’s Triple Crown Sportsman Series event. It will be a 40 lap event with a timed hot lap session determining the field of the qualifying heat race.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Scores 7th Place Finish on Saturday Night at the BOS; Great Experience at the Front of the Field Early in Main Event

Competing in his first full season in the ultra-competitive Sportsman division, Tristan Draper was well aware that it wasn’t going to be easy. He has had plenty of ups and downs throughout the season. He was back at Brockville Speedway this past weekend looking for some good luck a tough few weeks at the BOS.

The night started out well for Draper, taking the win in his qualifying heat race. He started the 25 lap feature from the front row, and battled for the lead for the opening 10 laps. As the race progressed, the handling on Draper’s car started to go away, but the end result was a strong seventh place finish.

“We are real happy with our run tonight”, says Draper. “I would have liked to stay up front and race for the lead, but the car started to get tight towards the end, and that is all we could do”.

Draper is currently 11th in track points, only 7 points back of the top ten going into the final month of the season. He will return to the BOS this coming Saturday night looking to build on last week’s strong performance.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Scores Best Career Sportsman Finish With Top Five Result at Brockville Speedway on Saturday Night

After a tough weekend last weekend that saw the Draper Racing team involved in a highway accident en route to the track, they were more than ready to put it all behind them and get back to the track this past Saturday night at Brockville Speedway.

Draper started the night with the usually qualifying heat races and finished in fourth place. The team made some adjustments to the car, and they returned for the 25 lap main event looking to capitalize on their front row starting position. After leading the first several laps of the race, Draper held strong through the remaining laps to finish with a solid fifth place result.

“The car was real good early in the race but just got too tight as the race progressed”, says Draper afterwards. “It was a good run for us, I am happy with that, now hopefully we can build on this and put together some solid, consistent finishes”.

The Draper Racing team will be back at Brockville Speedway next Saturday night, followed by Cornwall Speedway next Sunday as part of the Canada Day Weekend celebration.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Draper Racing Thankful for the Support From Racing Community After Accident on the Way to Brockville Speedway on Saturday Night

Like any other Saturday night during the racing season, Tristan Draper and his Draper Racing team were making the trip from Sydenham, Ontario to Brockville Ontario Speedway. Just a couple miles from the track disaster struck as an oncoming vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane directly in front of the Draper Racing truck and race trailer. The Draper team escaped injury in the accident, but the trailer received extensive damage.

The Draper Racing team would like to thank everyone for their positive comments and thoughts during a difficult few hours on Saturday afternoon. They would also like to thank John Dumbleton, Jamie Young, Brian Comeau, Graham Drew, Gary Kessel and Herb Scott for their help.

Of course, with the issues on Saturday, the Draper team never did make it to the track…and the races ended up getting rained out anyway.

Sunday was a new day, and with a borrowed trailer from Jamie Young and the J&J Automotive race team in tow, the team made the trip to Cornwall Speedway. The night was a struggle for the young Draper, making the field for the Sportsman 20 lap feature after coming from the back to finish in third in the last chance qualifier. He was involved in an early race incident, ending his night.

This coming weekend, Draper will return to Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday night.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Scores Top Ten Finish at Brockville Speedway on Saturday Night; Continuing to Learn Quickly in Competitive Sportsman Division

When the 2014 racing season got underway several weeks ago, Tristan Draper and the Draper Racing team were looking forward to starting their first full campaign in the Sportsman division. They were well aware that there would be a steep learning curve as he battled competition that is much older and more experienced. Draper has help his own over the first few weeks, and posted a top ten finish this past weekend at Brockville.

On Saturday night, Tristan and his team made the trip to Brockville Speedway. They started the 25 lap Sportsman main event from the 16th position. At the drop of the green, Draper realized he had a pretty good car, and steadily moved forward throughout the race. By lap 20, Tristan had worked his way into the top ten and crossed the finish line with a solid tenth place finish.

“We are getting there. The competition is real tough, but we are gaining on it”, says the 17 year old racer after his second top ten of the season. “We work hard to get better each week, and we are heading in the right direction”.

Draper will return to Brockville Speedway once again this Saturday night looking for even more results. After five events in 2014, Draper currently sits 11th in track points, and just 11 points back of the top 10.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Learning Quickly in DIRTcar Sportsman Division as He Battles Older – More Experienced Drivers

With the 2014 season now underway, Tristan Draper has a year of experience under his belt, as he piloted a Rookie Sportsman car for most of the 2013 season before dabbling in the full fledged Sportsman class late in the year. Draper just turned 17 years of age, and is one of the youngest competitors in the division, but that hasn’t slowed him down, or his steady improvement.

After getting rained out on Friday night at Can Am, the Draper Racing team turned their attention to the 40 lap Seaway Series race at Brockville Speedway on Saturday night. Tristan started his qualifying heat from third place, and was running strong until getting caught up in a multi-car incident that took him out of the race. Repairs were made, and Draper returned for the last chance consolation race where his fifth place finish locked him into the tail end of the main event. Draper was patient early, and persevered where many others with more experience did not, and he finished the race in 20th position.

“We will keep working hard to step up our program”, says Draper. “We have come a long way in the past year, and we are still learning every time we come to the track”.

With Can Am being rained out on Friday night, and Monday being a holiday, Draper decided to head to Cornwall Speedway on Sunday night. Getting laps in at various tracks and various conditions are important to the driver development, and they looked forward to the challenge, with a great field of cars on hand. The end result was a respectable 16th place finish.

This coming weekend, Draper will return to Can Am Motorsports Park on Friday night and back to Brockville Speedway on Saturday.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have graciously contributed to their racing efforts. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, Taylor Auto Mall, Wemp & Smith Construction, Foster’s Repair Service, Auto Glass Pluss, Limestone Cremation Services and TEO Pro Car.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our website, www.draperracing.com.

Tristan Draper Looks Back on First Year of Sportsman Racing and Looks Ahead to an Exciting 2014 Campaign

After racing the past several years in the Go Kart division at Brockville Speedway, Tristan Draper moved into a Sportsman car in 2013, racing weekly at Brockville Speedway in the new Rookie Sportsman Division. He also raced occasionally at Can Am Motorsports in Lafargeville, New York as well as Cornwall Speedway.

The Rookie Sportsman division proved to be very competitive, but it didn’t take long for the 16 year old to find success, driving to his first win of the season on June 8th. Draper added two more victories in the month of July, winning in back to back starts on July 6th and July 20th. Tristan also added several other strong finishes throughout the summer and made the move to the regular Sportsman class late in the season in preparation for 2014.

“After getting our third win in the Rookie Sportsman class we decided that it would be beneficial to move up to the regular Sportsman class and test the waters for next year”, says Draper on the decision to move up early. “Hopefully that will pay off, as we will know what to expect once we get started in 2014”.

The Draper Racing team has expanded their operation for 2014 as Dillon Sallows will be racing under the Draper Racing banner this coming season. The team has been working hard over the winter in their Harrowsmith, Ontario shop and are anxious to get started in 2014.

Tristan and the entire Draper Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors that have contributed to a successful season in the Rookie Sportsman division. These sponsors include Draper Doors, Bay Electric, Dig N Dirt, Wejay Machine Products, Rideauview Contracts, Pay Load Transportation, and Taylor Auto Mall. We look forward to the upcoming 2014 season in the Sportsman division.

For more information on Tristan Draper, including driver profile, schedule and results, photos and links to our sponsors, please check out our brand new website, www.draperracing.com.