RPW Column: Rookie Success Has Joey Conklin Ready For Sportsman Competition At OCFS In ’23
News Director 
Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – WARWICK, NY – After getting seat time in his Dad’s car in 2020, third-generation racer Joey Conklin began to compete in the Rookie Sportsman division in 2021.
In 2022, he put it all together as he raced to 3 wins and the Rookie Sportsman Championship.
For 2023, Joey is moving up to the Sportsman division and the young racer is excited about the upcoming season.
“We won the Rookie Sportsman championship this past season, and with 3 wins, we had to move up. But we think that we are ready. We are looking forward to the Sportsman season.”
In the very competitive Sportsman division, Joey has set goals for himself that most certainly seem attainable.
“We are looking for a couple of top 10’s or top 5’s. This way, I get my feet wet in the regular Sportsman. In addition to Orange County, we are looking at traveling around to different tracks, Accord and Afton, for some weeks.”
Joey’s dad. Joe Conklin, is an 8 time Sportsman winner at OCFS. But he put his racing on hold in 2022 to focus more on Joey’s development. But according to Joey, he’s getting antsy to get back behind the wheel.
“Right now, we are looking at getting a 2nd car to do the traveling and to get my dad back behind the wheel once in a while because he’s got the itch again.”
Joey relates that this is the 60th anniversary season of the family in racing.
“This year marks the 60th year since my grandfather started racing. That makes it a special season for us. He started flat towing from Warwick all the way to Accord on Friday nights. He would stop and pick up Rich Eurich on the way. He raced a Sportsman #19.”
Joey didn’t have a whole lot of racing experience before getting a lot of seat time when OCFS ran a series of Thursday practice sessions during the 2020 season. His racing experiences before that were just a few races in Slingshots.
“I raced Slingshots, maybe 7 races if that, some at Oakland Valley and at Snydersville. I didn’t take a liking to it and just stopped. When 2020 and the Covid hit, we ran those practice sessions and that I took a liking to.”
Joey very much enjoys the atmosphere at OCFS.
“Everyone is very nice there. It’s a fast track, fun.”
It’s not surprising who Joey says he tried to pattern himself on the track.
“My Dad. He had a lot of wins at Orange county and a lot of success, so I’m always looking to him for advice. I’m pretty proud to be the first Conklin to win an OCFS championship. It’s proud thing for our whole family.”
Being a young driver can be rough on the parents. But Joey seems to think that they mostly take it in stride.
“I think that they worry a little more than they let on. But my mom sometimes gets tied up helping in the booth with the lineups.”
In local racing, it’s almost always a family type atmosphere in the pits and the Conklin team is no different. Crew members are his dad, Joe Conklin, his mom, Keri-Ann Conklin, Jean Gillespie, Rich Burrows, Herb Dunn, Mike Holt, Ethan Nalezny and Jack Kruger.
Sponsors for the team are Len & Jo’s Restaurant (Port Jervis), F & A Concrete, Edenville General Store, Heavenly Eats & Catering, Frank’s Pizzeria (Warwick), Mulch Right, Richard Burrows Trucking, Teo Pro Car, Joe’s Lawn Maintenance, Ron’s Auto Electric, Napa Midnite Auto Parts (Pine Island), Affordable Painting and Property Maintenance and NYSIDI Construction.
The team is mourning the January loss of David Madden, owner of Big Apple Carting, a supporter of the team and of other teams in the OCFS pit area. R.I.P. David.
The Conklin’s are longtime, loyal competitors at OCFS and have had some very good moments at OCFS. Joey’s 2022 championship may be their best highlight. Good luck to the team as Joey makes the transition into the regular Sportsman.
