Ben Kennedy Racing’s Daniel Dye Ready for 9-Night World Series of Asphalt
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Daytona Beach, Fla. (7 February 2020) – After capturing an impressive podium in his Super Late Model debut last month, Ben Kennedy Racing’s Daniel Dye (Deland, Florida) will look to continue his progress in the sport with a very intense schedule of races that kick off this weekend at New Smyrna Speedway.
The Father Lopez High School sophomore will compete in two classes (Super Late and Pro Late model) in the World Series of Asphalt, a nine-night run of events at New Smyrna Speedway. The races will all be streamed live on the NBC Sports Trackpass platform.
Dye will not only be jumping between the Super Late and Pro Late model classes, but will also be adjusting as he makes the jump into ARCA Menards East competition. Just 16 years old, Dye will race the No. 43 Halifax Health Diabetes Education and Prevention Chevrolet SS in Monday night’s Skip’s Western Outfitters 175.
Despite the challenge that racing three different cars through this intense schedule present, Dye is eager to get strapped in as he takes on a remarkable calendar of short track racing. With his consistent progress behind the wheel and a clear focus on his own development, Dye brings momentum as he prepares to check off a number of firsts in his rapidly developing career.
“We’ve been on a little bit of a roll now with some good races going back to November and then getting third in my first time out in Super Late Model last month, so I am going into the World Series of Asphalt with a lot of optimism and I’m really excited about it,” said Dye. “Going back and forth between the cars in the different classes, I’ll have to figure things out really quickly because they will all take different styles to be quick and there is a lot to learn.”
The unique schedule of events is one that has become a fan favorite as the 2020 motorsports season kicks off with the short track event as the big NASCAR Speedweeks presented by AdventHealth is just around the corner.
“With ten races on the (World Series of Asphalt) schedule, that is really like three or four months of a normal race schedule so hopefully I will learn a lot really quickly,” said Dye, who goes to high school just 10 minutes from the track. “Having a team like Ben Kennedy Racing behind me is important because they have a lot of really experienced guys there, and they will be a big help for me in terms of taking what I’m learning and putting it to use the next time out. So this really is a great opportunity for me to learn a lot in a short period.”
Dye not only is hoping to learn as he races his way to the front, but he’s also working to raise awareness of a key initiative as his Super Late Model and Pro Late Model entries both carry support for Halifax Health “Race to Stop Suicide” program.
Halifax Health has teamed with several partners to launch an initiative that aims to prevent suicides in Volusia and Flagler counties by providing mental wellness services and resources for those in need.
“This (suicide) is something that people don’t want to talk about—but the race car is a great way to start that conversation-it breaks that barrier down,” said Dye. “The more people that are aware of what kind of help is out there, the better, so I am happy to be a part of that by racing this car.”
Off the track, Dye has also been featured in the campaign’s public service announcements airing on local radio stations, with the PSAs including a message providing information on suicide prevention and mental health resources.
