Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – GRAHAMSVILLE, NY – Brian Durbin has been one of the most successful Sportsman racers at Accord Speedway the past two seasons. After scoring his first 2 career wins in 2021, he followed it up with 3 wins last year.
And the soft-spoken driver of the #24 would like to see that continue in 2023.
Unlike from recent years, Brian is going to open his season at another track.
“If our plans work out, we are going to Middletown for the Short Track Super Series race. We want to see if we have any speed down there. Tyler Johnston is going to that race too, so I’m going to follow him down. We will do the practice and then the race the next day. After that, we’ll be racing full time at Accord.”
After getting those first wins in 2021, Brian didn’t have any expectations going into 2022. But he was certainly pleased at how the season went.
“I think 2022 went pretty well. I didn’t have any expectations. I kind of go out there and see what happens. I don’t go out there expecting to win every time. I just try to do my best. We were able to step it up from the season before, so I can’t really complain.”
Before he started racing stock cars, Brian raced motocross and he was very good at it.
“I ran motocross pretty much off and on my whole life. My last full season was 2017. I believe that I had 13 wins that season, my best season ever. We traveled all around District 34. I’ve raced at the Orange County Motocross. We were all over the state, it was a real weekend deal.”
After getting a Slingshot in 2018, after a few races, Brian realized that form of racing wasn’t for him.
“I built a pretty good Slingshot, but those racers pulled right away from me. I said to myself that this wasn’t making any sense. We traded that for a roller from Jared LaBagh and that’s how I got into it. Then, I was hooked. I grew up with Gary Edwards Jr. I went to a lot of races at Orange County with Gary, learned a lot about racing from him. I’ve been around it, just never around the setup side of it. Just kind of changed tires and stuff like that.”
Although Brian now has a few years of experience with the stock cars, he freely admits that he needs help from Tyler Johnston to help him with his car.
“I’ve been pretty good at anything that I raced. With the stock cars, I just never had the confidence. I don’t know how to set the car up. I’m just the driver. If Tyler doesn’t set the car up for me, then I’m probably not going to be very fast. Tyler is a great friend of mine, he’s the one who got me to get into it and he helps me out. If I can get put in the right direction, I can normally adjust to what the car is. That’s what works out best for me. We don’t adjust much on the car at the track. Normally, what we set it up for at home is what we run it with for the night.”
In talking with him, Brian seems to underestimate what he has accomplished the past two years. Five wins in the competitive Accord Speedway Sportsman division is no small feat at the bullring.
“I progress pretty fast. And honestly, when I got up into the regular Sportsman, I thought that I wasn’t good enough. It took me a little bit to make me feel like I really belonged there. Sometimes, I still second guess myself. But I know that once I get on the track and the flag drops, I have the ability and I’m in a different mode. I don’t go out there with the mindset that I can beat everyone all the time.”
Brian is not one for setting season goals. He just takes it as it goes.
“I just love racing, period. I hope to win if everything works out. If I don’t, I won’t get upset about it.”
Brian says that it’s not points that he’s interested in, it’s race wins.
“I’ve never been a points racer. I care more about winning than finishing 1st in points. I can finish 10th in points, but as long as I have some wins, I’ll be happy.”
Like many racers, the thing that Brian likes best about the sport is not what happens on the track.
“I feel like the track is where all my friends are. When I go to the track, I feel like I’m hanging out with my family. Whether we are fighting each other on the track or not, I enjoy being around all the people.”
Sponsors on Brian’s #24 include R. A. Mickelson & Son LLC, Bob the Builder, All County Insulation, Sherwood Tile and J. Purdy Enterprises (Rock Hill).
Crew members are Brian’s wife, Michelle, his sons Shayne and Jayce, his brother-in-law Tommy Mansfield and Tommy’s son, Theo.
Brian gives a big shout out to Signs and Graphics by Lenny for making his car look so good.
And Brian surely appreciates all the help he gets from Hig Fab.
“I absolutely love the Hig Fab cars, I don’t ever see myself driving anything different. Jerry Higbie always helps me out. If I call him on a Sunday, he’ll answer the phone for me. They do good for me.”
Brian sums up his experiences as ‘just a guy who loves racing.’
“I try to give credit where it’s due. It’s because of the people who help me out is the reason that I do as well as I do. For us, a day at the track is a family day.”
The 2023 season will be a success for Brian if it contains 3 things, fun, family and wins. Good luck to the likable driver of the 24.
