Both Ronnie Wrenn, Jr, and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. are prepping
and looking forward to their Drive-Off at Monticello Raceway on Thursday,
December 12.
Wrenn, the leading dash-winning driver in North America, is
headed for a showdown against Bruce Aldrich, Jr., whose third in races won on
the continent, and next Thursday both reinsmen will drive in every race on the
Dec. 12 card. And to be able to see two great talents go head-to-head arguably
the biggest winners will be the racing fans, both on and off-track.
Yesterday (Wed. Dec. 4) Wrenn drove three winners at
Northfield Park and Aldrich had four wins at Monticello Raceway. Both are
leading drivers at their respective racetracks.
With the cooperation of the Monticello horseman and the
judges, each driver will choose his mount in the competition after the draw for
post positions is completed on Monday, December 9. Being the visitor,
Wrenn will choose first in the first race and then Aldrich is granted second
choice. The next race its Aldrich who picks first and Wrenn second, and then
they alternate their driving choices in each race on the rest of the card.
“Both drivers feel that this system would be the fairest way
to try to equalize the competition but without the cooperation of the horsemen
and the commission and the judges it wouldn’t be possible and we certainly
thank them,” noted Eric Warner, the tracks director of racing. “The Drive-Off
It should be very interesting.”
The European Point System will be used to determine the
winner of the Drive-Off but it really doesn’t matter who wins and who finishes
second, except for the participating drivers.
Wrenn, who turned 27 on August 21, has only been driving
regularly for four years and now 1260 wins under his belt. That he is the
current king of the hill in races won this year is certainly a monumental
accomplishment for the youngster.
Aldrich, 45, on the other hand, is a veteran with 4686 wins
and multiple driving titles at Monticello Raceway and currently is at the top
of his game. This is the best year Aldrich has had since he started driving on
a regular basis in 2000. His previous best seasonal output was during 2010 when
he guided home 451 winners.
“I think it’s a great idea having us drive against one
another and that we’ll have our picks of drives in all the races on the card
should make for a great competition,” Aldrich said.
Wrenn echoed Aldrich’s remarks and added “It’s really great
that you guys at Monticello have such excellent cooperation from everyone
there.”
