Ever since Ben Bray was a toddler, he knew his destiny was to include a firesuit and a very fast race car. In the back of his mind, there was the reality a day might come when he'd have to fill his famous father Victor Bray's shoes. 

This weekend, at Willowbank Raceway, at the most prestigious event he's ever participated in, reality stared him down. 

Bray showed just how well his dad had prepared him, and never flinched in the face of a monumental challenge. 

The elder Bray was in a local hospital recuperating from a medical procedure, and unable to attend the 50th annual Gulf Western Oil Winternationals. 

"Racing with or without my dad is always hard," Bray said with a smile. "We are two egotistical people, and we butt heads. To come to a drag race with a guy who built the empire that I get to drive in, and everything I've ever done in my life. He's given me the opportunity to be great and to be successful. The platform he gave me is awesome."

The platform was mighty heavy for the weekend, not only did Bray have to battle for his place in an eight-car field, with 16 of the toughest doorslammer entries fighting for a spot.  Additionally, because the event was sponsored by Gulf Western, the team's primary sponsor, Bray and his team entertained hundreds of company associates. 

Bray proved worthy of the challenge, not only satisfying the large contingent but also scoring the second quickest elapsed time of the weekend during Saturday's final qualifying session. 

"I'd never pictured the day I'd get to come to the track to run one of his cars, with his sponsors and the complete deal he has here," Bray explained. "It's a big shock to the system. To be able to come out and prove to him that I've learned a lot from him in 16 years in this sport that I could run this as well as him is important to me. It's not about pride; it's about reliability. I want to show him that he can count on me."

From the time Bray was a Junior Dragster racer, he was being groomed in the fine art of sponsor relations and Marketing 101 from Victor, arguably one of the best in the business. 

"I knew that I needed to step up even though I have had a lot on my mind," Bray said. "You have no other choice but to step up and be a leader. Gulf Western has been totally committed to the process."

And Bray was totally committed to not letting his dad down either. He admits working the crowds over the weekend was nowhere as tough as trying to find the right words to encourage Victor. 

"Running the race cars is something we do every day, going into a medical procedure where he's not in control, and not knowing what the outcome will be, is nearly an impossible task to have the right words to say. I can show him support, and that's what we all have done.

"To successfully fill his shoes, when he has done so much in his career, and we are talking about a man so well known and loved, is a very hard thing to do. I won't try to fill those shoes or replace, but if I can be a tenth of the man he is, I will be just fine."