His first experience on a racetrack was at Putnam Park in Indiana.  SPS, a company that pioneered the performance market for Saturn’s, was sponsoring a lapping event at the track.  Dennis decided to pack up a set of wheels with new race tires mounted on them, some tools and head off on a 10-hour drive to Indiana.  “I was really excited about a chance to drive on a real race track,” said Dennis.  “My instructor was Mark Rushbrook, who races a Saturn in the SCCA ITA class.  Mark was a cool guy and gave me a lot of help that day, showing me the lines to take around the track and telling me to be smooth and consistent and not to worry about the speed.  What a blast that was.  At the end of the day Mark told me I was really smooth and that I was going to make a great racecar driver.  That was all I needed to hear, I was ready to go racing.”

Over the next several years Dennis started preparing his wagon for the racetrack.  He found an organization that would let him race a wagon, the Eastern Motor Racing Association (EMRA), and off he went.

In his first season in 2002 he stuck out like a sore thumb in his newly race prepared Saturn station wagon.  He took a 3rd place trophy home from his first time trial at Pocono Raceway which was followed by a 2nd place finish in his first door to door race at Watkins Glen International.  He must have impressed someone, because he was awarded the honors of EMRA’s Best New Driver for the 2002 season.

In 2003 Dennis found his way to the podium four times.  He had one win in the National Auto Sports Association (NASA) and three 2nd place finishes with EMRA.  His finishes throughout the EMRA season earned him enough points to place 3rd in the Driver Championship.

In 2004 Dennis moved up to a professional series, the United States Touring Car Championship, sanctioned by the National Auto Sports Association.  He only raced a partial schedule, but turned out some positive results, placing 2nd at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and 1st place at Summit Point Raceway.  “2004 was a fantastic year for me”, said Dennis.  “Not only was I finally living my dream of racing touring cars, but most importantly my lovely wife gave birth to our beautiful little girl.  The day I married my wife was the greatest day of my life until our daughter was born.  There is nothing that can happen to me in my life that will ever top that day.”

2005 was a rebuilding year for Dennis.  He took the season off while a new race engine was being prepared for the car by drivetrain engineer Mark Womack.  He spent the second half of the year testing and developing the car in preparation for the 2006 season.

The 2006 season had its up’s and down’s for Dennis.  On the upside, on his home track at Summit Point Raceway, He finished in second place.  “The Summit race was a big weekend for us”, said Dennis.  “We had a lot of friends and family there to cheer us on, so it was really special to come out with a strong second place finish”.  On the downside, he had a few DNF’s for a mechanical failure and an on track incident.

“I feel very fortunate for everything that I have”, said Dennis.  “I don’t think it would have been possible without the support of my mom, dad and wife Nicole.  I owe them a lot for everything they have done for me over the years.