John Rankin: From ENDURO Racing to Sportsmen & Pro Stock wins (Interview)
Photo Courtesy of: Tanya Everett Photography
January 14th, 2023,
Hailing from the scenic locale of St. Martin's, New Brunswick, second generation racer John Rankin's foray into the sport found him behind the wheel of an ENDURO car. However, Rankin's natural affinity for racing quickly saw him ascend through the ranks, showing top notch abilities in the Sportsmen class and later, showing he could win in the prestigious Pro Stock category, too.
Rankin's career boasts an impressive array of accolades, most notably in the Sportsmen Points Championship at Speedway 660 (Track Division), where he emerged as the champion in 2009 and 2017. These years were particularly stellar for Rankin as he simultaneously clinched the Atlantic Stock Car Championship title at Shediac CENTRE For Speed in Grand-Barachois, NB. This championship is earned by winning the Sportsmen feature in its annual event which also showcases a prestigious Pro Stock race, often running 250-laps in length.
The year 2016 marked a significant milestone in Rankin's racing career as he triumphed in a Pro Stock feature at Speedway 660, racing for Brad Silliker Motorsports with support from Lonnie Sommerville. Notably, this also marked the first Pro Stock win for the Silliker team, which Ashton Tucker now runs for. This victory was a precursor to his commendable 5th place finish in the 660 Pro Stock track series points standings in that very same season.
Rankin's stellar performance continued into 2017. As previously mentioned, he secured the 660 Points Championship in the Sportsmen category, as well as the CENTRE For Speed Atlantic Stock Car Championship Title. His winning ways in a Sportsmen at 660 extended through the season with victories in a standard points feature, followed up a week later with a 100-lapper on Father's Day. Culminating this series of checkered flags, Rankin seized a big win the following month in the 660 Fire Cracker 150, and finally showcased his strength and consistency with a podium finish in the Sportsmen portion of Speedweekend.
Throughout his career, Rankin has consistently delivered strong performances, including several top-10 finishes in the prestigious Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model race.
More recently, Rankin has made notable appearances in the Pro Stock Tour. In 2022, he delivered impressive 4th and 5th place finishes in both of his starts, both of which at Petty International Raceway, NB. He maintained this high standard into 2023, securing another 4th place at Petty, where he was a formidable contender throughout the night and was the only other car besides Ashton Tucker to lead laps.
Interview:
I tried to capture the main highlights of your time behind the wheel. Are there any particular achievements I've missed that you'd like to note?
I really want to thank you for asking me to do this, I really appreciate the chance to share some of our story.
I think you did a great job at capturing most of my 20 years in racing. Over the years, we've had a lot of fun, enjoyed some success, and met some great friends. One race that always stands out to me is the 2016 IWK 250. Brad Silliker and Team took us down that year for our first trip to the track, after many visits as a spectator. We won the last chance race against some strong cars, but unfortunately we broke 20 laps into the 250. I feel we had a good enough car to surprise some people that day, so that one will always sting.
Also, finishing 2nd to Dylan Gosbee at the 2015 Atlantic Championships (Centre for Speed) was another strong run in the #2 (Brad Silliker Motorsports) car.
Am I right that you have some Street Stock experience? What can you share about those days, and what order of classes did you go through prior to Sportsmen?
Yes, as you mentioned, we ran a few Enduro races at (Speedway) 660, thanks to Brent Langille. That was before we bought the Street Stock with my student loan money from university, haha.
We ran parts of 5 seasons in the Street Stock class from 2003-07. We never ran for points, but we had a few wins and had a ton of fun. My highlight from those years would be getting to race against my father. I drove for Mike Francis that day, so we put Dad in our #28. And yes, I did beat him, haha. You don't realize how special those moments are at the time...
It wasn't long after that, that he suffered his first heart attack, and gave us all a scare. But the paramedics did an amazing job and he's still telling me how to race today.
We bought the Sportsmen from Donnie Shields in 2007 and started running a few races a year. 2009 was our first full season and first championship, something I'll never forget.
Do you have any specific goals moving forward? You really impressed me in the Petty Race on the Pro Stock Tour this year.
Honestly, I'm not sure that I have any specific at this point. I have always wanted to run a full tour season once, but also realize my pay cheque isn't big enough for that.
My son has also kept us busy in the summers, running to baseball games, which we really enjoy. I do plan to run as many races as possible, mostly at Petty (International Raceway), or 660 this year. We've enjoyed running Petty lately, and had some consistently strong runs there. I love going there and racing the same track my father raced on years ago for the MASCAR Tour.
One of my goals I've had since 2016 was to run the IWK 250 again, and to work with Frankie Fraser Jr. We accomplished that last year. We didn't get the run we were hoping for, but we had some fun and finished the race in one piece. Frankie has been a great friend of mine, and someone I've always looked up to.
You've raced at CENTRE For Speed, Speedway Miramichi, Speedway 660, and Petty International Speedway, all in New Brunswick, and a pair of IWK 250 starts (2016 & 2023) at Riverside International Raceway, Nova Scotia. Have you raced at any other tracks, and do you have a favourite track, or tracks (just in terms of how they race), and what is it you like most about them?
We actually got to run a Street Stock race at Riverglade (Speedway - a now defunct New Brunswick track that is currently in the late stages of a revival effort) before it closed. That was a tough track and very unqiue, but Jack lane helped us figure it out.
At this point it's hard ot pick out a favourite, I always love racing at Centre for Speed in Shediac, and I love the speed + facility at Riverside (International Speedway), but I'd have to say Petty is currently high on my list. The little bit of success we've had, the history there, and my love for how it races are good reasons why. The lines change a bit throughout the race and make drivers have to do a bit of extra work finding where the car wants to run at different points.
How did your current #9 team come about?
I've had the same core crew basically since we started racing, and wouldn't trade them for anything. In 2019 Chuck Mercer felt like I needed another shot at Pro Stocks, so we went together and bought this #9 car. We've struggled a bit, but keep working at it. Chuck's been a great friend and supporter of mine for years, and I'll never be able to repay him for what he's done for my racing career.
Please shout-out any sponsors, people, plug a business if you'd like, etc:
I have a ton of people I'd like to thank. We've all heard a million times that if it wasn't for sponsors, racers wouldn't race. I am definitely living proof. We are a very small team, we have an old car, a 10 year old truck, and a borrowed trailer, but we make it work, thanks to all the help.
Our main sponsors:
AJW Mechanical (Chuck Mercer)
Shur-fit Automotive (Andy Benner and Kevin Wilson)
Domino's Pizza (Pete Richard)
These companies have helped us for years, and we're very gateful for their support. I really want to thank my crew for their endless hours and hard work, I couldn't ask for a better group. Ron Loughery, Chuck Mercer, Hillis Briggs, Colin McCumber, Corey Little, and my father Ted Rankin. These guys have been through a lot with me, through: throwing up before each race, wrecking in practice, to wining championships. I can't thank them enough.
My dad loves racing more than anyone I know, and I'm grateful we get to share this hooby together, and maybe with my son someday. My parents, my wife Amanda, and son Landon have supported this crazy hobby and given up many summer events for long days at the race track.
I just want to thank everyone that has been a part of helping me get ot the race track over the years, and all the fans that make this sport great. Matt Harris, Bob Colquhoun, Brad Silliker Motorsports, Jeff Doherty, Lonnie Sommervile, and Chris Duncan are a few people that have been a huge part of my career.
I'm looking forward to 2024, and seeing what we can accomplish.
Thanks again Luke for having us do this,
John
