Windom Hopes To Turn Heads In Dirt Derby
ROSSBURG, Ohio — Many fans of dirt-track and open-wheel racing at the short track level automatically know the name Chris Windom when it pops up in conversation, but far fewer know his name among the NASCAR fan base.
That’s something Windom hopes to change during the fifth annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday night.
Windom, the defending USAC Silver Crown Series champion and a driver of both Silver Crown and sprint cars, is making his Truck Series debut this week for team owner Mike Mittler in the No. 36 Baldwin Brothers/Fox Paving Chevrolet.
After driving in a handful of ARCA races between 2011 and ’15, scoring a best finish of third in his debut at the Springfield Mile in 2011 for Win-Tron Racing, Windom is excited for the chance to return to the stock car ranks and prove himself again among the elites.
“This is such an awesome opportunity,” Windom said. “It’s great to work with Mike Mittler and these guys. I know they’ve got great equipment for this race; (teammate) Bobby (Pierce) has shown it in the past, so I’m excited. I have a little bit to learn still, but I think we’re getting better each time out and it’s all about me learning as much as I can.”
The 26-year-old Canton, Ill., native says it’s a mixed bag when determining whether or not prior dirt experience helps someone in a race like Eldora, but that he does feel he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve for success.
“I think I have a few advantages and a few disadvantages,” Windom said. “I’m familiar with what it takes to run on dirt … but I haven’t run a heavy car like this in a while. I ran a few ARCA races in the past, but no Truck races … so it’s a lot to take in. It’s definitely a lot different, having a 2,000-pound heavier car than what I’m used to.”
“That’s probably the biggest learning experience, is trying to figure out how hard you can push it into the corner … and seeing when it’s going to stick and when it’s not. It’s a lot heavier, your entry points are a lot slower and you have to get just the right feel for breaking the truck loose but not too loose … because it comes around in an instant. You’re not saving it after you cross that line.”
Windom spent much of Tuesday’s two practice sessions trying to find the feel he wanted in his truck, and felt that by the time final practice ended at 10 p.m., he and his team were in a fairly good place going into time trials.
“We were pretty tight at first, when the track had a little bit of moisture in it, and I couldn’t get it to turn very well,” Windom explained. “Once we got it freed up, we made some big steps forward. Hopefully I can do the same from the driver’s seat and we can really get going. I’m learning every time out, so I think we’ll be in pretty good shape come race time.”
Source :speedsport.com
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