Ryan Glenski has won just about everything there is to win in a Bandolero. He is a champion in the tough Summer Shootout series at Lowe's Motor Speedway and a threat in everything he competes in, including the Allison Legacy Series.
Saturday night the 15-year-old backed up all that success by taking the victory in his first-ever start in the Pro Challenge Series on Saturday at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC. Glenski won the pole and held off a hard-charging Meghan Dillner to score the win in the Pro Racing Rookie Challenge at Orange County Speedway (NC).
Ryan Glenski took the car once driven by Tripp Massengill (top) to victory lane at OCS (bottom.)
“The whole day was great,” said Glenski. “I would like to thank my mom, my dad, Tony (Arnold, car owner) and everyone else that helped us out today.”
Glenski started out the day fast in practice. He and Meghan Dillner, who was in her second-career Pro Challenge start, showed strength in qualifying with Glenski barely edging out Dillner for the top spot.
“The day started out pretty good,” said Glenski. “We ended up getting the pole and that’s important.”
“The BDI Racing team had it really great for me; I couldn’t thank them more,” said Dillner, who finished fifth in her Pro Challenge debut at Lanier National Speedway in Georgia a month ago. “It really stuck. I was really trying to get the pole there. It was really close, but I was happy I got a really good qualifying lap.”
Dillner’s luck appeared to run short at the start of the event as her #151 machine stalled out on the track while the officials were lining up the vehicles. She was able to get it fired up, but started the race in the rear of the field instead of the outside front row.
“They stopped us on the backstretch and I couldn’t get it started again,” explained Dillner. “I got a push back into pit road where the team helped me get it fired again and in the right gear so we could pull back out on the track.”
While Glenski was out front, Dillner worked her way through the field to the second position. She came up one position short of the win, but was still enthusiastic about her overall performance throughout the 25-lap event.
“This was only my second race in Pro Challenge, so it gave me a lot of experience weaving through the pack by drivers I was just a little bit faster than,” said Dillner, who is another graduate of the Bandolero ranks. “It was an honor to finish second to Ryan Glenski, who is a heck of a driver and has a lot of experience in many different cars. I had a great time tonight. I was a little bit disappointed to get second, but it was a great finish for my second race.”
In the Bandolero Series and the Allison Legacy Series, Glenski is used to running up front and dominating races, but he showed his skill behind the wheel of his first Pro Challenge event, by driving to the checkered flag in his only start to date.
“Meghan had some unfortunate luck with her car stalling out,” explained Glenski. “I was looking forward to racing against her. It was a good day for us though. I really have to thank Tony for giving me a chance to drive his car. It is for sale (the Pro Challenge car) and it is a great car.
“It was a great thing,” said Edwards. “It gave us confidence to go out there. We got a top five and the seat-time was great for me as a driver. This is what we needed.”
The North Region’s rookies will be joined by the veterans of the series when the point schedule of events resumes on Saturday, June 14th at Dillon Motor Speedway. The race will be part of the televised RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour show in Dillon, SC, just outside of Florence. Nick Stroupe enters the Dillon event with a slim two-point lead over Devon Haun and Clint King, who are both tied for second.
Ryan Glenski Wins Pro Challenge Series North Region Rookie Challenge
Young Racer Enters Victory Lane at Orange County Speedway (NC) In First Series Race
“Bandoleros were a lot of fun to race and the Allison Legacy is a bigger motor (than the Bandolero) with a transmission. Pro Challenge is a great car with a sway bar, great tires, and great motors. It is a great series to be in.”
Trevor Edwards also showed his strength from behind the wheel. After looping his car in turn one mid-race, he recovered to finish third.
“I tried to catch the #18 (Glenski) and just drove it too hard,” said Edwards. “I tried to catch him with old tires, but it just didn’t work out. The front tires were like they were on ice. We were real loose getting in.”
Despite his handling issues, Edwards was thankful the series put on a rookie-only race.
