After a rocky start to the 2016 season, Eric Yorke was able to come on strong en route to a runner-up finish in points. Now going into 2017, it’s all about putting the pieces together for a second division championship.
“As any other season it hard to say what will happen,” he told Short Track Musings. “I try not to think too much about other crews and what they are doing. I just try and focus on myself and my teammates. Basically I am always thinking about what I can do to better prepare my car and what changes I need to make to my driving, what are my weaknesses from last season that I need to address going into 2017.”
With the obvious plan to chase after the championship, Yorke notes it’s important to be on your game every night with how strong the division is. With the hard work put in over the off-season, he “expects to go out there and be a contender each week, and if I am not, I’m gonna work my ass until I am.” Of course, the challenge seemingly only got difficult between last year and this year as the track announced the merging of the pair of Mini Stock Divisions for 2017.
“I think merging the two divisions has its pros and cons,” he said. “I am excited to have a full field come feature time; it should create a lot better racing and more exciting for the fans. I obviously don’t want to see cars on the trailer, but I think it will create some harder racing, trying to race your way into the feature instead of everyone makes it! I am excited and nervous to be racing against veterans and rookies, should be interesting.”
Looking back on last year, Yorke had a great season last year en route to a runner-up finish in points. It’s worth noting the year didn’t start out as he wanted, fighting mechanical issues with a new car on opening night. However, he was quickly able to rectify the issue quickly and score the feature victory on the third night of competition.
“Mechanical issues caused another rough start to the season, but once I got that sorted out, I think I had a car capable of running up front every night,” he said. “2016 and the new car has taught me a lot, and I plan on using that in 2017 now with two Nissans on the team and hopefully can get off to a better start this season. I sure feel that I did end 2016 strong considering the rough start and a rough patch in the middle of the season with a major wreck, bringing home a few checkers.”
As noted, the middle of the season went incredibly well, as the driver of the No. 51 Can-Alignment Motorsports, J&D Tire, Solex Steel, McKeown Collision, Partimer Signs, Ancaster Embroidery, Country Girl Designs, and Skytec Rentals.Nissan 240SX was able to end off the year with four wins, nine top-fives and 11 top-10s. While the four feature wins showcased Yorke was a front runner, it was the win at the end of August which hit the point home after he was able to out-run division front runners Andy Kamrath and Warren Paxton in a race that he led flag-to-flag.
“Watching them battle door to door in my mirror and doing everything I could to stay in front, and coming in front of t hose two was definitely a win in my books,” Yorke said. “Having that moment meant so much, that all the hard work does pay off.”
Now going into the year, a lot of eyes are not only on Yorke to back up his results, but his teammate Lisa DeLeeuw as she makes the move up to the Mini Stock division from the Mighty Minis. The pair are set to run identical cars, with DeLeeuw behind the wheel of the Nissan that Yorke took the 2012 Championship.
“Having Lisa as a teammate is definitely benefited both of us,” he said. “Both teams work together to keep both cars at top shape, having extra hands is much needed. Its also nice to have someone so close who you compare notes with, talk about track conditions and setup, and bounce ideas around with. We also push each other to be better, to work hard, nothing worth doing is ever easy!”
Categories: Interviews, mini stocks, Sunset Speedway
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