Ellis has decisions to make

By Ed Turner For the News & Messenger
Published: May 10, 2008

Ryan Ellis has been tearing around the track at Old Dominion Speedway this season. 
The 18-year-old Ashburn driver is tied for first in points with David Polenz and has collected three seconds in three races.  He’s also snagged three poles.
“It’s really cool to be in first right now,” Ellis said.  “I would love to win a track championship at Old Dominion.  Roger Austin is somebody I’ve always looked up to.  So it’s really cool to be racing with him, let alone be ahead of him in points.  If he hadn’t had something break last race, he’d still be first in points.”
Ellis is also off to a strong start in qualifying.  He’s knocked down three poles and has always been a good qualifier.
“My goal for this weekend is not to qualify on the pole,” he said, with a laugh.  “When they invert, it puts me back to fifth or sixth and it’s just really hard to get through that pack at Old Dominion.  You have to use the bumper at ODS to get by somebody and David [Polenz] is running just as fast as anybody out there and it’s really hard to get around him because he’s a really good driver.”
Ellis noted that he has had some exciting races at ODS this season.  In the opener, he thought he had a shot at winning.  But he couldn’t close on Austin.  In the last race, Ellis was faster than Polenz.  But Polenz had track position and is a skillful driver. 
“I thought I had a chance,” Ellis said.  “I got one tap on Polenz but with the tap, I got knocked sideways.  In the last lap, I got back up to him but couldn’t get by.”
Ellis is hoping he’s going to be in the mix for the championship battle as the season unfolds.  He is currently competing in the Spec Miata road course touring series and is second in points.  He competes at Summit Point, Virginia International Raceway and Mid-Ohio Race Track in two and a half mile road courses. 
“It’s a lot of fun,” Ellis said.  “We get anywhere between 60 and 90 cars.  Sot it’s a pretty crazy race and a really competitive series.”
The Spec Miatas are the opposite of Legends, which are zippy and easily have their rear come around. 
“With the Miata, you can just get on the power whenever,” Ellis said.
Ellis is facing a hard choice in deciding whether to compete for a championship in Legends at ODS or in the Spec Miata series.  The Miata series, however, will include a ride for next season for the champion. 
“It’ll be hard to miss one of those races,” Ellis said.  “I’m hoping for some rainouts.”
Ellis notched his first ODS win in Legends in 2005.  He’d already had one win at Erie Speedway.  But he hasn’t been able to get back to victory lane since at ODS, despite winning 35 plus races elsewhere.  He’s also taken home a slew of second places finishes.
“I can’t seem to close it out at Old Dominion,” he said.  “My big goal this season is to pick up another win at ODS.  I’m getting sick of second place because that’s been happening in the Spec Miata series, too.  Not that second is bad.  But I’m anxious to get that first win in 2008.”