NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by Sirius Satellite Radio
POST-RACE NOTEBOOK – BARRIE SPEEDWAY
MOPAR 300, JULY 1
Ø THIRD TIME IS A CHARM: In the third NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Dodge) picked up his first win. He battled Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) for nearly 100 laps before prevailing. The victory just may be late in coming in Kennington’s mind. He had a fast car in the season opener at Cayuga Speedway Park and won the Bud Pole in that event, but a broken right rear trailing arm defused all opportunities that evening.
Ø DODGE IN VICTORY LANE: In three NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events, three different manufacturers have won. This time, Dodge collected the honors in the form of Kennington. The Chevy of Thomson and the Ford of Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford Fusion) won the first two events. In the Mopar 300, Dodge took six of the top 10 positions along with a pair of Fords and Chevys. Thomson was the top-finishing Chevy while Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Taurus) led the way for the Ford troops.
Ø HOMETOWNERS FARE WELL: Three drivers who finished in the top 10 claim Barrie Speedway was their home track. Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Wild Wing Dodge Avenger), one time owner of the race facility, finished runner-up to Kennington. John Gaunt (No. 12 Centennial Chrysler Dodge) finished seventh and is a standout Late Model performer at Barrie. Joey McColm (No. 50 ATTO Dodge) continues to impress with his second eighth-place effort of the season.
Ø MOBIL 1 OIL “COMMAND PERFORMANCE OF THE RACE” AWARD: In addition to picking up his first win in the Canadian Tire Series and all that goes with it, Kennington also collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 as a reward for his effort.
Ø MOPAR FAST FIVE: A newly introduced program in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the Mopar Fast Five. This program awards the top-five finishing Dodges in the race. In the Mopar 300, Kennington was the top finishing Dodge with his victorious effort and for that he was awarded $2,000 CAD. Dilley’s second-place effort was rewarded with $1,250. Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge) was the third-highest finishing Dodge which earned him $1,000. The fourth and fifth-place Dodges were those of Gaunt ($500) and McColm ($250).
Ø THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Scott Steckly (No. 22 Erb Group Dodge Charger) came to Barrie with the idea of improving his season after 12th and 20th-place finishes in the first two events of the season. He was well on his way when he qualified fifth for the Mopar 300. Things were looking even better in the early portions of the race in which he was right there with the leaders and had even worked his way to second place. Unfortunately, though, he lost his motor just beyond the halfway point of the race and was forced to retire the car resulting in a 19th-place finish.
Ø HEADING WEST: Many Canadian Tire Series teams will spend the next week packing up haulers readying for a westward migration. Next up for the series will be the British Columbia Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 on July 14-15 at Sun Valley Speedway in Vernon, B.C. which will be followed by the road course event as part of the big Grand Prix Edmonton weekend in Alberta.
Ø IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: For anyone unable to be on hand last Sunday at Barrie Speedway, TSN will air coverage of the race on Saturday, July 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern.
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