5/8/2013
Willamette Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Cronk
Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Cronk
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc's Photos)
One of the future stars at Willamette Speedway is a young man by the name of Brian Cronk. Despite a very busy work-school schedule the Portland native manages to fit in time for his racing career. Son of seven-time track champ David Cronk, Brian has already earned two titles to his credit in 2006 and 2007. Competing full-time at the historic 1/3-mile clay oval Brian Cronk is looking for his first career DIRTcar Super Late Model feature victory in 2013 and hopes to eventually earn a championship in the track’s premier division.
Driver: Brian Cronk
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Occupation: Student (Oregon State University)/Mechanical Engineer
Age: 20
Years Racing: 8
Classification: DIRTcar Super Late Model
Car Number: 29
Chassis: Rocket
Sponsors: Metro Services, Dog Lover’s Gold Dog Food, Big Sky Landscaping, Gassner Trucking, Finishline Concrete, Raceway Storage, SyKart Indoor Racing Center
Special Thanks: David Cronk (Dad), Family
BD: Last year you had a rough start to the year but a strong finish in the end. Was there some adjustments that you made to get those results?
BC: Last year we switched from a 2003 Rocket to a 2007 Rocket and there were a lot of differences. The frame rails are different and because of that the chassis would affect the way the chassis would flex. We learned a lot of good information about our newer car to make some adjustment to make it better as the year went along.
BD: Brian your family has deep roots at Willamette Speedway. You’re a second generation driver correct?
BC: Yeah, but my grandpa raced a little. It was mainly has been my dad (David) and uncle (Lance). My cousin Sean races too he just moved up to the Super Sport division. I pretty much grew up at Willamette. In fact I never really went to any other dirt track in my life until I went to Arizona one winter. This track has been good to me. I won the Classic (now Street Stock) championship when I was thirteen and backed it up the next year in the Sportsman when I was fourteen.
BD: You currently are a student at Oregon State University. What is your major?
BC: Well I’m a fulltime student and I work fulltime. My major is mechanical engineering. I was enrolled in a testing internship where you would design new parts on freight trucks. Since I do both fulltime it really puts a dent into the time spent in the shop working on the race car but somehow I find time.
BD: Last year you had some fun in the Street Stock division on weekends when Late Models had the night off. Is that going to happen again this year or are you focusing primarily on the Late Model?
BC: Honestly the Late Model is our main priority right now. I really want to get it to where we are consistently running in the top three again. There may be a couple of times this year when I race in the Street Stock but it really just depends on my dad’s schedule.
BD: What is your goal for your racing career in the long run?
BC: I really would like to just be a major contender for a Late Model championship. I think if we win that first race we can keep the wins coming.
Willamette Speedway will return into action this Friday with the second Kart race of 2013. Saturday night will have the DIRTcar Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, and Street Stocks. For more information on the latest news and stories regarding the Willamette Speedway log on to www.trophymotorsports.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage