RPW Exclusive: Bob McGannon Had Bigger Smile Than Anyone In New Egypt Saturday; Enjoys Super DIRTcar Success

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – NEW EGYPT, NJ – Anthony Perrego may have stood in victory lane to kick off the 2024 Super DIRTcar Series season, but nobody had a bigger smile at New Egypt Speedway on Saturday than Bob McGannon.

McGannon utilized Friday’s open practice and made the most of it, getting his Schultz Ford #21M quicker and quicker every time he hit the track.

That paid off big time for him on Saturday as the Garnerville, NY driver set quick time in group B of time trials (second fastest overall behind Peter Britten), won his heat race and drew sixth starting spot for the main event.

“This was my first time at New Egypt Speedway,” McGannon said. “That track is cool. I just wish we had a better result in the feature.”

Unfortunately, that is where the Cinderella story ends as McGannon placed 21st when all was said and done.

“The car was good for the first 40 or 45 laps,” he said. “Then, the handling started to go away and it was tough to see with the dust.”

However, you can tell the whole night had him pumped up.

“The whole night was really good for us,” he said. “We haven’t gotten to travel much so it’s a learning curve going to different tracks. Being fast and running up front is huge for us.”

How important was the practice on Friday night?

“It really paid off for us,” he said. “When we first went out on track, we weren’t very good. We just kept working on it and working on it and then I kind of got into a rhythm.”

Between the practice night on and the Power In The Pines on Saturday, track crews went to work to improve the surface and get it ready for the Series opener. However, just getting laps on the track was big for McGannon.

“It felt good to be quick on Saturday but that all started with the Friday track time,” he said. “Even though track conditions where much different one day to the next, I was able to get acclimated to track configuration and that was extremely important.”

That led to a solid night for the entire 21M team and you could tell how much the heat race win meant to Bob.

“I definitely needed that,” he said. “Confidence is key and that was just what we needed.”

For what seems like forever, McGannon has called the Orange County Fair Speedway home. However, with the future of the Middletown, NY oval in question, has Bob thought about where he’ll race in 2024?

“We’re not really searching for a new Saturday night home right now,” he said. “We’re going to bounce around this year and see what happens. No real home track but we’re going to hit some of the Super DIRTcar Series races and maybe some of Short Track Super Series events as well.”