Winning Fans
Wood went on to win the World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year award for 2000 and returned to the series again in 2001 driving the same, blue and white 21w that he had in 2000. I had since learned that the car was owned by Donnie and Sherie Woodburn and was actually sponsored by the Hop and Sac Convenience stores. The drive to bring Pepsi aboard as full sponsor of the car during the 2000-2001 off-season had produced little or no results.
The same could not be said for Wood's 2001 racing season. Added help in the pits brought Wood to the front of the pack often and he finished the season 13th in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws point standings, including three A-feature wins and two preliminary feature wins.
I was able to catch up with Wood in person and by phone many times during the season and each time found him equally as delightful as the first. He was a year older now, had a full season under his belt, and wasn't letting many tracks "trick" him the way Cedar Lake had the year before. He was delighted with his success and always found ways to genuinely deflect praise toward those who helped him on and off the track. He was quickly becoming a fan favorite, drawing an impressive line of his own when I again met him at Cedar Lake Speedway in July of 2001.
This season looks to be a groundbreaking year for Danny Wood on the Pennzoil World of Outlaws trail. He is driving for a new owner, Lonny Parsons' famous No. 6 Casey's General Stores Maxim. It will be interesting to follow the team's success as the season progresses.
Many have wondered whether Wood could become a nightly contender if he were given the enough support. As he approaches his 44th birthday in June, Wood will be answering those questions. With added support comes heightened expectations. My hope is that the Danny Wood that sprint car fans have come to know does not fall victim to those pressures.
The first thing one notices when approaching Steve Kinser is the quiet arrogance of a King. When approaching Danny Lasoski it is the awesome determination outlined in his scowl. With Danny Wood, it is his genuine smile. He is the neighborhood motor head who has finally found a way to do what he loves for a living. He is a driver who has earned his popularity the hard way, with a genuine smile and a firm handshake.