Donald McIntosh
Donald McIntosh and his Blount Motorsports team have proven to be quite adept at doing what it takes to win the championship in the Spring Nationals mini-series. The Dawsonville, GA driver and his team based out of Maryville, Tenn. won the title in this Ray Cook-promoted series in 2015 and 2016. Further, the BMS crew earned this championship in 2014 with Billy Ogle, Jr. in the driver’s seat.
McIntosh believes preparation is the key to success in this 10-race set of events that take place over the course of five separate weekends throughout the spring season.
“I think that the beginning of the year we’re just really strong and motivated and our stuff is fresh for the year,” the young racer explained. “For whatever reason, we’re on top of our game at the beginning of the year. A lot of it has to do with having a good game plan for the year.”
Further, the driver who will turn 24-years-old later this month believes that he performs well because of the experience he has acquired on the venues most often used in the Spring Nationals.
“I’ve got some time on most of the tracks and that makes a big difference too,” McIntosh declared. “That’s a good part of it.”
Another contributing factor in his past successes may very well be that the Blount Motorsports team typically has several races under its belt by the time they set out on this tour. Races such as the Hangover at 411 Motor Speedway, the Cabin Fever at Boyd’s Speedway and various events held as part of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks in which they have entered have allowed the No. 7 Super Late Model operation to work the early season kinks out of their car.
“It’s good for momentum,” McIntosh said of those early season races. “This is as much of a head game as any sport. When you’re running good, you’ve got confidence and you can make smart decisions because you’ve got the confidence to make those choices and make a change that you’re not going to be afraid to make. When you’re running good it makes a big difference.”
Further, McIntosh takes comfort in the familiarity he has with Cook’s style of promoting. He believes that the consistency in formats and procedures provided by the promoter allows teams to put their focus where it belongs rather than on extraneous matters that only serve as a distraction from car preparation.
Donald McIntosh in the No. 7 Blount Motorsports ride
“Stuff like that makes a big difference,” the defending series champion insists. “When you’re used to it and all you have to do is focus on the car and not worry about which group you’re going to be in or where you’re going to start the feature after the finish of your heat race it helps. Some series are different because of the way they do inverts and everything. That can have you a little baffled and you have to think about a lot more than just getting your race car right. Being familiar with where you’re racing and who you’re racing with is big.”
As far as this weekend’s $15,000-to-win Tennessee Tip-off at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn., McIntosh feels as if he is in his comfort zone.
“I like racing at Smoky Mountain,” he said. “I wasn’t too good there the first year we ran together but I’ve always liked racing there. It’s always been a good race track because we can pass on it. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it. But I really enjoy most all the race tracks Ray Cook takes us to. There’s not a bad one.”
