Estrella Finds New Ride
Dylan Estrella and Bill Bernard will be teammates next season at Seekonk Speedway. Bernard will drive his familiar No. 47 and Estrella will drive the No. 46 Crazy Horse Late Model. Estrella will be bringing his sponsors and team with him. Crew Chief Jeff Mecure, Ryan Bibeault will handle the tires and his father will be the spotter. The team is also looking for additional crew members.
“I’m ecstatic,” Estrella said. “It’s an honor to race for Bill (Bernard) and the things he’s said about me. The cars are pretty similar, just a couple of changes that he does different than we do and the same driver. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully it’s still a good piece like my old one.”
Estrella did not race the season finale DAV and did not have any plans to race next season. The former No. 46 was acquired by Street Stock standout Austin Blais.
“I was pretty bummed,” Estrella said of the team decision. “… Things happen, you just gotta suck it up and move on.” Car owner Jeff Mecure was confident that the former SYRA 750 champion would race again, citing his patience and talent. His parents kept him focused, including on the next ride that may become available. Estrella kept himself occupied with school and his new full-time construction job.
“You just kind of gotta accept it and I wasn’t really mad about anything. I was actually very appreciative. Jeff (Mecure) and his family have done more than enough for me and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Him and Kathy and my parents they’ve let me like out my dream of racing and not many people get to live out their dreams in their lifetime and I’m glad to say I’m one of the few that gets to.”
Mecure has been with Estrella for a number of years back to his days in the SYRA Mini Cups. Mecure continued with Estrella through the Sport Trucks and his recent Late Model success. “He does a lot for me and there’s really no way I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay him for it, but I’m very grateful for it,” Estrella said.
Bill Bernard of Holliston, MA had a second car (the team’s primary in 2013 and last year’s backup) and was looking for a driver. Bernard considered Rick Gentes, Rob Murphy, and Bobby Pelland, III, but Estrella’s record and experience in a Crazy Horse chassis won out.
“They had a lot of success and that car is identical to the car that I ran the year before last, so this is kind of a good fit for us,” Bernard said. “I think it will help out our program and I think we’ll be an asset to them, and I think a lot of good will come out of that.”
Estrella’s parents “put the bug in his ear,” which led to Estrella visiting Bernard. They were “reminiscing on some old times and stuff like that, and things just kind of worked out and its all history from there and hopefully its some good history and good times this coming summer.”
Estrella experienced “quite the year for ups and downs,” last season. The N. Attleboro, MA driver was unsure of his plans entering the season. Rules changes made the Late Models compliant with the American-Canadian Tour. Mecure Motorsports owner Jeff Mecure found a new car at a flea market to race. While one question was answered, a fire struck the garage and damaged the new racecar. The team missed opening practices to repair the car.
The car was ready for the final practice and the car was “really, really good” for Estrella. Estrella was surprised at how quickly he felt comfortable in the car and won the second week. Estrella led the division with eight wins.
The Phil’s Propane Triple Crown that saw Estrella claim two wins in 2013, proved trying. “Some of the 50 lappers from a flat, getting wrecked, and blowing a motor, we couldn’t have had any worse luck and I think it was kind of karma for the year before where I did really well in all the other ones, but it was well worth it and coming back from a blown motor and winning the rest of the season. It was just amazing and to get all those wins for my dad, Jeff, and Ryan, and then everyone else that helped out, it’s just a good feeling.”
Estre
lla took a 44 point hit in the final double points, Triple Crown race on August 30. Pelland finished third to Estrella’s 14th, when he suffered engine problems. He lost the title by 30 points.
“That’s heartbreaking let me tell you,” Estrella said. “That would be a great thing to throw on my resume and get talked about. … It would have been nice to race down to the wire for it, but that was quite the heartbreaking night.”
While losing the championship was difficult, Estrella said it was “not that bad” as eventual champion Bobby Pelland, III of Cranston is a friend.
” It feels good to know that someone else that you are good friends and you care about is winning the points and doing just as well and I would love to see him succeed just as much as the next guy,” Estrella said. “… But if it had to have been anyone else, I would want it to be him.”
“Dylan was a good fit for us because I’ve watched him and his dad go down there (to Seekonk) on Friday nights and (they are) going around helping the kids in the Mini Cups and they’re just helping everybody,” Bernard said. “That’s near and dear to my heart is that those guys take the time to help those that are coming up through the ranks and stuff. I think that’s very important.
“I’ve run door to door with him for the past four years and he’s not the same driver he was four years ago. He’s learned to be patient. He’s like any good driver, they’re going to take chances and finding the holes when they can, but he doesn’t overdrive the car. He doesn’t put his car in harm’s way. He’s respectful of others. He has respect for himself and his equipment. He’s grown so much as a driver and he has great vision and he wants to be a champion and he has it in him. … To have those abilities and be able to bring that to the team as well. I would love nothing better if we couldn’t end up on top down there, I certainly hope that he can.”
Bernard hopes to begin his season at New Smyrna (FL) Speedway since he will be vacationing with his wife in Florida. He expects to be a last minute entry as the hauler may need the head gaskets replaced.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com