Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – LAFAYETTE, NJ – After several seasons racing Slingshots, Alex McCann is moving into Sportsman competition at Accord Speedway in 2024.
“We just finished up the 2023 season at Accord, but I’m moving up to the Sportsman class at Accord in 2024,” said the 17 year old Alex. “We have gotten a car together, a 2019 Teo.”
Alex is very grateful to another team for their assistance in getting him into the Sportsman division for the upcoming season.
“Leiby Racing has helped us out a bunch, getting the car and the equipment that we need. They are the only reason that I’m able to race Sportsman this year. I can’t thank them enough for their help this off season.”
With his dad being a racer, it wasn’t hard for Alex to get the urge to race at a young age.
“My mom took me to my first race when I was less than two weeks old. But I do remember, being very young, sitting in the first turn at the Orange County Fair Speedway. I saw those cars sailing into the first turn and I knew then that I wanted to do it. I begged my parents for years to get me a car. I just wanted to race anything that I could. And when the chance came, I said, “Let’s go!!”
With the transition from the Slingshot to the full size Sportsman, Alex is looking towards the challenge of a different type of racing.
“The car is going to be completely different from what I’m used to racing. It’s nothing like I’ve ever driven before. My Dad has been telling me about that for weeks, telling me that I’m going to have to be more aware. I’m going to have to feel the car out.”
But he is well aware of the challenges ahead.
“I’m well acclimated with the track, racing there for several years. I’m hoping to adapt quickly and maybe get some of that great racing luck going my way.”
And Alex will not hesitate to look to drivers with more experience for some guidance.
“I have some people I can lean up there. Aidan Elliot and his crew, they’ve been good to me since we were racing Slingshots. We raced one year together in the Slingshots, but I hope to get some good advice from them if I get into a difficult stretch.”
After starting to race at Hamlin Speedway, the team made the switch to Accord and Alex was able to score his first win.
“Things weren’t going well, not running well and had mechanical issues. I was starting to question whether I could even compete. But the first time we came to Accord, I thought that the car was really good. We won the heat and the feature and to stand atop the car in Victory Lane, that was something special to win at that track.”
One of the things that fans, both longtime and recent, notice about Alex is that he honors the career of the legendary Buzzie Reutimann with his colors and similar looking 00’s.
“I’ve had people come up to me during the season and tell me what a great fan of Buzzie Reutimann they are. It’s nice to carry on Buzzie’s legacy even though he doesn’t race in the north anymore. I really enjoy it when people come up to me and talk about Buzzie. My dad, Mark Bishop, knew Buzzie very well and he raced a similar scheme to Buzzie and it’s now passed down to my generation.”
Alex likes to study the driving styles of the Modifieds at Accord, especially one of the more successful racers there.
“You watch the Modifieds, many of them have been racing for a long time and they know what they are doing. One of the guys that stands out to me is Danny Tyler. Ever since we’ve been at Accord, he’s been one of the top 5 all year long. He always gets a win or two. He knows as well as anyone how to get around that place. He seems to hold his own against guys like (Anthony) Perrego, (Andy) Bachetti and (Matt) Sheppard when they show up for the big races.”
One regret that Alex has that he didn’t get to race a full season at Orange County.
“I really would have liked to race a season up there but we’ll be looking forward to the Eastern States Weekend.”
Sponsoring the McCann team in 2024 will be Leiby Racing and M & M Lawn Mowing
Crew members are his dad Mark Bishop, Dwight, Marty VanNieuwland Sr. and Marty VanNieuwland Jr.
Alex McCann is a well spoken, very nice and respectful young fellow. He has a busy spring ahead of him with the move up to Sportsman and graduating high school.
Wishing Good Luck to Alex and his team for 2024.