(Stafford Springs, CT)—As the 2015 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series fields continue to take shape at Stafford Motor Speedway, the SK Light division has added another former Wild Thing Kart champion to its roster. Monson, MA native Daniel Wesson will make the step up from the karts to the SK Light division where he will race for the record $1,000 R.A.D. Automachine / T/A Engines Rookie of the Year bonus.
Wesson has an extensive background in the Wild Thing Kart ranks, getting his start in the Tiger A and B divisions before moving onto the Junior Outlaw division where he won a championship, and then on to the Senior Outlaw division. Wesson accumulated over 40 wins during his kart career and he finished second in the Senior Outlaw division standings this past season despite missing the last race of the season. Wesson says he is looking forward to getting started behind the wheel of his #92 Competitive Edge Coatings / Patriot Coatings Chevrolet.
“I’m pretty exited, the SK Light car is kind of like a big go kart,” said Wesson. “I think the biggest challenge for me will be trying to figure out if the car is loose or tight since it’s so much bigger than the go kart. In the kart you can feel the back end moving around while it’s a lot harder to feel that in the SK Light car. I’d really like to win rookie of the year, that bonus money will definitely help us out a lot with fuel and tires. Hopefully we’re going to do well, I think we have a top-10 car for the season.”
The 2015 season won’t be all new to Wesson as he moves into the SK Light ranks. Wesson was able to take part in several practice sessions at the end of the 2014 season at Waterford, which helped give him an idea of what the transition would be like moving from the Wild Thing Kart to SK Light. With SK Modified® driver Brian Sullivan serving as his crew chief, Wesson feels like he is well prepared heading into his rookie season.
“We tested at Waterford at the end of the year and Brian [Sullivan] has been my mentor ever since I was racing in the Jr. Outlaws,” said Wesson. “I got an idea of what to expect by driving at Waterford and I think that getting my feet wet with that test will really help me out when I get started at Stafford. Brian has also been helping me with things like how to enter the corners and Danny Cates has also been giving me some advice.”
As Wesson prepares for his first season of SK Light competition, he already has a clear idea of where he would like to end up in the modified ranks. If Wesson can transfer the success he had in the Wild Thing Karts over to his exploits in the SK Lights, he just very might well reach his desired path in modified racing.
“I’d like to one day move up to the SK Modified® division and then if I can get a ride hopefully move into the MRS or Whelen Modified Tour division,” said Wesson. “I’m excited about the track, but at the same time I’m still a little nervous about where to go.”