DRUMMONDVILLE, QC — When pre-teens are asked what they want to be when they grow up, their answer frequently changes. But not for Felix Roy.
After winning a Slingshot race at 11 years old, the young Canadian racer was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He confidently answered, “I want to be a Super DIRTcar Series champion.”
Seven years later, Roy is now on the fast track to making that happen. The Napierville, QC, native signed on for his rookie season as a full-time Super DIRTcar Series driver shortly after his 18th birthday earlier this year and will kick off his first series campaign at Bridgeport Motorsports Park on Sunday, April 23.
“It’s kind of a dream come true for me,” Roy said. “Because when I was racing Slingshots, I always told people I’m going to be a Super DIRTcar Series driver one day.”
With the help of his father and full-time crew chief, Roy plans to take on the series schedule and establish himself as a serious contender.
“I’ll try to be Rookie of the Year,” Roy said. “I know there’s a lot of rookies this year … We’ll try to make all the features and get experience.”
To make the features, he has a simple approach in mind.
“It’s for sure trying to set a good time,” Roy said. “I struggle a little bit setting quick times, but when it gets slicker, I’m faster. When you set a good time and you start at the front in your heat, I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s easier than if you start at the back and you’re coming to the front. If we set a good time, and start at the front during the heat, I’m not worried we can make the features.”
The teenager will have ample opportunity to hone his approach, as he estimates he will compete in 100 races by season’s end. He started off by making the long trek from his hometown down to Barberville, Fla., in February to compete for the first time at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
Weekly, he will be competing at Autodrome Granby on Friday nights, Saturdays will be alternated between Autodrome Drummond and Airborne Speedway, and Sundays he will race at Cornwall Speedway.
Roy will also have the special privilege of competing in a series race on his home soil as the series will return to Canada this summer for the first time in four seasons.
“I know they are coming to Drummondville, one of my home tracks, and they go to Plattsburgh, so, I’m really happy,” Roy said. “I think we will do good at these tracks. I’ll try to be top five if possible. I race there weekly so I have an advantage. But I love it. It’s good for the fans. The fans are waiting for it, too.
“It’s going to be a full house, I’m pretty sure. I’m really happy. Hopefully, they come back every year again.”
Until then, Roy will focus on finding a setup that works for him and familiarizing himself with tracks he will visit for the first time, starting this weekend at the series championship opener at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Swedesboro, N.J.
It will be the start of the young driver getting one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a Super DIRTcar Series champion.