Imagine rolling out of bed on Christmas morning and finding that every gift you unwrap is exactly what you’d been hoping for. That’s the level of emotion Orono, Ontario’s Danny Benedict experienced on the opening night of the 2015 season at the racetrack known as Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval.

After a long winter, the driver known as “The Showstopper” – who had just weeks earlier returned from his first year in the Powerline Technician Course at Algonquin College – steered his #54 Ford Mustang Mini Stock into the Peterborough Speedway winner’s circle. A couple of weeks later, the 18 year old achieved the same result at his new Saturday night racing home, Sunset Speedway. The talented teenaged racer says it’s been a great season so far.

“Whether through karting or the Mini Stock, most of my life has been around racing,” said Benedict. “Near the middle of 2014, things started to take off and we’ve been running strong ever since. All the hard work we put into getting to car ready to race every week is paying huge dividends for the team and for our sponsors. It’s a great feeling to go to the track and be in contention for the win whenever we race.”

Danny Benedict is looking forward to returning to some familiar territory when the team makes an appearance at Peterborough Speedway Sunday, June 28^th for the annual Chase for the Colours Pole Qualifying event. With extra distance main events for the Late Model, 4Fun and Thunder Car divisions – plus a 30 lap feature for the Mini Stock teams – helping determine the starting line-up for the 23^rd annual Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing, Benedict says he will have his ride ready to go.

“Autumn Colours is probably the biggest race we’ll run all season and any advantage we can get now will help us in the long run,” admitted the talented young wheel twister. “Knowing we have a guaranteed starting spot while everyone else has to fight their way into the show would be a huge benefit, but there is still a lot that can happen with a strong field of close to 40 starters taking the green flag in what will be a 50 lap ‘A’ main Thanksgiving weekend.”

Consistency has been the key to Danny Benedict’s successful 2015 season. A string of solid top 5 and top 10 finishes has the go kart graduate sitting within striking distance of the point lead in the highly competitive Mini Stock field at Sunset Speedway.

Danny Benedict’s 2015 season is sponsored by Dent Dynamics, Wallace Auto Supply – Carquest, Mayhew Graphics, Mark Rainford Auto Sales, Camsport Truck Caps & Accessories, B & W Enterprises, Kim Irwin of Irwin Tax, Baudo Auto Services, Hoy’s Garage and Clarke Motorsports Communications.