Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – WESTPORT, CT – Dillon Gannon is a young, very personable and enthusiastic up and coming driver. He’s just the type of personality that dirt racing needs to continue to grow.
After several years of racing and improving his skills in the Street Stocks, Dillon acquired a Sportsman car in 2022 and won with it in his first outing at Accord Speedway in a Rookie Sportsman race.
With a full year of Sportsman experience from 2023 behind him, Gannon is making the jump to race in 2024 with the Modifieds at Accord Speedway and some other selected races.
“We are looking to run the full season at Accord. I’m just very excited. It’s always something that I wanted to do,” Dillon says. “I’m just glad that we are able to do that now.”
Included in the team’s plan are some Short Track Series events.
“We are going to do some racing in the Short Track Super Series at Accord, Devil’s Bowl, Orange County and maybe some others may be in the mix.”
It was Gannon’s association with Limestone Service Station in Ridgefield, Connecticut that got him interested in racing.
“I always wanted to race. It was about 6 years ago, working for Limestone Service Station. The owner asked his son if he wanted to start racing. He said absolutely. Then, it grew into me doing it. Ever since then, we absolutely love it. We have made many friendships along the way.”
Gannon’s career began in 2019 at OCFS, driving a Camaro #33. When Nick Giardini, driver of the sharp looking #46 Street Stock moved into the Rookie Sportsman class at OCFS, Dillon took over the driver’s seat. And he was quite competitive during the 2021 season.
After some podium finishes, Gannon nearly won the 2021 ESW Street Stock Championship Race. He scored his first career win on June 18, 2022 and he enjoyed that experience so much that he repeated the win the following week.
One might think that Gannon’s most memorable moment in racing would be that first win. But in fact, it was racing against one of OCFS’s legendary Street Stock competitors that Dillon has as his most memorable moment.
“All the wins are memorable, We had good success in the #46 Monte Carlo Street Stock. But once, I was racing with Bob Sleight and we just had a great race, swapping positions back and forth near the front of the pack. That was when I knew I could be competitive and run with the top talents in the division,” Gannon said.
It was during the 2022 season that the team acquired the Sportsman car.
“We acquired the Sportsman. It was a lot of learning. It was a big change going from a full fender car to an open wheel. We came across a great deal on an engine package and we are running Modifieds now.”
And Dillon won in his first race in the car, a Rookie Feature at Accord.
“It was kind of a funny moment, we picked up the car from upstate New York. We put it in the trailer and changed the oil in it and went out and got the win with it, it was pretty awesome.”
Dillon has good vibes about racing at Accord in 2024.
“I’ve always had a good feeling for Accord. I have hopes of being able to run there and I’m looking forward to it.”
Not having a whole lot of experience at Accord, Dillon states that he will be observing the racers there closely to watch how they navigate the 1/4 mile bullring.
“I kind of try to build from what I see going on out on the track. I’m the type of person that will learn from watching someone. I try to watch as much as I can when not working on the car. Also need to watch for how the track will change.”
Sponsors for the #46 in 2024 include Limestone Service Station, Modern Concrete Pumping in Bronx, NY and Parts Authority.
Crew members for the #46 are Jay Pepin, Nick Giardini, and Dave Brantner.
And one thing that will not be lacking with Dillon is the excitement of the upcoming season.
“I’m really excited about racing at Accord regularly. We couldn’t do it while racing Orange County. It’s a really fun track, you’re always on the wheel. Really Close racing.”
Dillon Gannon, always upbeat, always easy to talk to and real easy to root for. Wishing him all the best as he takes this big step in 2024.