(Interview) Ryan Messer – A Championship Pedigree
#1 Ryan Messer at Antigonish’s Riverside International Speedway - Courtesy of JT Racing Pix
Introduction:
#1 Ryan Messer has established himself as one of the top drivers in Maritime racing, consistently demonstrating skill, determination, and a drive for success, seeing particularly impressive results at Speedway 660. From his early beginnings to his recent victories, Messer’s journey shows excellence at every level of racing.
Track Division & Touring Series Success:
Messer hails from Harvey, New Brunswick, and has been making waves in the racing community for years now. His early career was marked by significant achievements, including winning the 2010 Speedway 660 Bandolero Championship. To start winter of 2011 as a follow-up, he won the Bandolero Winter Nationals at Auburndale, Florida, winning 4 of 5 feature races. Continuing his successes, he won the 2014 Atlantic Modified Tour Championship, and impressed with a 4th place finish in the 2015 Speedway 660 Sportsman Series Division standings, followed by winning the championship in 2016.
In 2017, he placed in the top-10 in the Speedway 660 Pro Stock division, being awarded Rookie of the Year, and in 2018, he lost the Pro Stock championship by the tightest of margins - a tie breaker to veteran Dave O’Blenis. His success continued with a 2nd place finish in the Pro Stock division in 2022 and a 4th place finish in the 2023 inaugural season of the Super Late Model Series (SLMS).
Notable Achievements:
Messer's 2023 season was particularly remarkable. He made history by winning the very first Super Late Model Series (SLMS) feature, taking place at Speedway 660, a significant achievement that will have a lasting novelty. Additionally, Messer captured his first East Coast International Pro Stock Tour win at his home track, Speedway 660, in the ECI 150, also in 2023. This victory was especially sweet as it came after a late-race charge, showcasing resilience and race craft.
In addition to these victories, Messer has secured 14 feature Pro Stock/Super Late Model wins at Speedway 660, including a crowning achievement in the 2018 250 lap race. He also achieved a podium finish at the 660 250 in 2021 and led 153 laps in the 2023 660 250 before placing 2nd after a late-race restart battle against veteran Dave O'Blenis. In another marquee race, Messer finished top-5 finish in the 2023 Petty International Raceway Mike Stevens Memorial.
Future Prospects:
With several significant victories under his belt and a growing reputation, Ryan Messer is poised for even greater success in the coming seasons. His dedication to continuous improvement and his strategic approach to racing make him a driver to watch.
Was there a source of inspiration for your car number being #1?
There wasn’t any particular reason behind the number one, I just had a few numbers that I would pick if I had the chance to race (back when I was about 7 years old). The Christmas that my parents got me my first Go-Kart, it had a big #1 on it, and that #1 has been with me ever since. I don’t think I could ever change it!
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from the Bandolero to the Atlantic Modified Tour, and then to the Sportsman Series? And after getting into the full-bodied car, how was the jump to Pro Stocks/Super Lates?
The biggest challenges I faced were a couple things, one being: obviously just the size difference and the way each car drove as I moved up. The jump from Bando to AMT was the biggest for me because it completely changed the way I raced, there was a whole new level of respect on the track. Most cars you come to in a Bando and try to pass, you really had to be careful, that car could give you a lane to race or maybe they won’t, but once in the full size cars, nobody was there to tear up equipment. Everyone raced very clean and it was a lot of fun in the mods. I was also new to spotters, which helped me a lot as well, having my father (Robb) in my ear all the way helped me progress as a driver and I owe all my success over the years to him!
From the Modifieds to sportsman, the first biggest challenge was getting used to the size difference, and the increment of a bit more power. My first sportsman year was definitely a year full of ups and downs, and lessons learned the hard way, but 2016 is when I got a good handle on the bigger cars and I was really able to learn Speedway 660, and we had a lot of good runs that year!
The jump to Pro Stock was a pretty big one as well, not so much for the car, but for the competition level. Just the weekly races alone were stacked - but for the big races, all of the big names I grew up watching were now the competition. As challenging as it was getting started in the Pro Stocks, it was very rewarding just to share the track with some of the Maritimes’ greats!
How did it feel, looking back now, that you won the first Speedway 660 race in the SLMS, and the first East Coast International Pro Stock Tour (ECI PST - formerly Maritime Pro Stock Tour) race at Speedway 660 since 2017?
Winning the first two races of last year was a bit unexpected but it was a huge boost for our team! We knew we had a very solid car, but in the past we had struggled to keep a car good at the end. We knew that on the short run we were on par with the top guys, but we didn’t know what we had 100 laps in. So by the end of 150 laps, to have a race car that was just as good as at the start and didn’t really fall off, that was huge for us! At that point, after the year we had in 2022 (horrible luck), my year was already made, everything else was just bonus! A couple of weeks later and we went and did it all again with a bad fast race car! So it was an awesome start to the year for sure!
Do you find you ever learn things from your competition as you race? Can you give an example?
I definitely try to pay attention to what others do, what line they take, where their pickup points are to try to better myself. Speedway 660 I am most comfortable at, but when we race elsewhere, I am always trying to watch laps or follow the veterans to see where I can get an edge. The tracks are always changing and one way of driving it might not work the next time you show up there, so somebody else might find that out before you, and you have to be able to adapt to stay competitive.
What are your primary goals for the 2024 racing season?
Our main goals for 2024 are to aim for wins, but to also keep building our program, especially at our out-of- town tracks like Petty and Oyster Bed, and to have good finishes with a car in one piece!
Our little team couldn’t do it without the help of our great group of sponsors!
The Waterfront Pub & Eatery
CSN Dana’s Collision Center
McLaughlin Overhead Doors
Urquhart Eavestroughing
M.C. HAMMER
White Gable Gardens
Castrol
Rec Auto Carquest
Service Master Clean Moncton
Watson’s Home Building Center
The Cabin Restaurant
Northeast Metal Roofing
Wonder Muffler Woodstock
EXCEL MFG.
Brandon Brewer Boxing
GD Fabrication & Racecars.
