The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race Reports
DILLEY OVERCOMES RUNNING OUT OF FUEL
AND WINS ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS 300
By Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations
ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia (Sept. 16, 2007) – Neither the rain nor running out of gas was not enough to keep Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) out of victory lane on Sunday at the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300.
The Barrie, Ontario driver limped on to the entrance of pit road on lap 205 of the 300-lap race out of Sunoco racing fuel. His crew was able to push the car to their pit stall in order to fuel the No. 9 Dodge Avenger. Fortunately for Dilley, all of this occurred under caution which did not cost him a great deal of track position.
The race was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, but rain and wind moved into the area during the afternoon forcing NASCAR and track officials to postpone until Sunday.
Dilley took the lead on lap 263 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event at Riverside International Speedway and was able to hold off a hard-charging J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet) over the course of the final laps. Dilley beat the 19-year old Fitzpatrick to the line by 0.852 seconds.
An exhausted Dilley emerged from his vehicle in victory lane after the hard-fought battle on the high-banked 1/3-mile oval modeled after the legendary Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
“I owe this one to the Whitlock Motorsports gang,” said Dilley. “All year long they have given me a great car and for one reason or another we just couldn’t get a win. Today, we got it done and it’s all on them. We had the fuel problem, but we were able to make up the difference.”
Dilley’s strategy to work his way back to the front was a simple one.
“I put the pedal on the floor and kept it there,” he said.
He also was appreciative of the support and hospitality shown by the fans of Atlantic Canada for this first Canadian Tire Series visit to the region.
“The people all over town have been just great. We had the rain yesterday, but it was good for racing today,” he said. “The fans were awesome all day long.”
D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Krispy Kreme Dodge) finished third for his series-leading eighth top-five finish in 2007. The subplot to that finish is his battle with Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford) for the points championship. Kennington came into the race staring at an 87-point deficit, but Ranger lost his motor on lap 268. The engine woes relegated Ranger to a finish of 13th in the event. As a result, over half was trimmed off that lead leaving it, unofficially, at 41 points. However, that was not Kennington’s focus in the race.
“We had a car that could have won and I was concentrating on that,” said Kennington. “But, now, as I think about it I guess this will tighten it a little. We’ll see what happens next week at Kawartha (Speedway). We’ll be ready.”
Derek Lynch (No. 77 Allied Steel Buildings/Canadian Shield Dodge) and Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dodge) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Scott Steckly, Jason Hathaway, Doug Brown, John Gaunt and Jim Lapcevich rounded out the top 10.
The race was slowed eight times for 63 laps. Five different drivers held that lead and it changed hands a total of 10 times.
Beyond Ranger’s points lead shrinking to 41 points, unofficially, in the championship points standings Fitzpatrick jumped up three spots from sixth to third. However, at 130 points behind the leader, it is not mathematically possible for him to win the title. The inaugural championship will be decided by Ranger and Kennington.
The Canadian Tire Series wraps up its first season next Sunday evening at Kawartha Speedway for the Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Charger 250 presented by Allied Steel Buildings.
NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO-Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 Results
Sunday
At Riverside International Speedway
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Lap length: 0.333 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (4) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 300 laps, 54.857 mph, $9,300.
2. (3) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300, $4,800.
3. (9) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $5,450.
4. (16) Derek Lynch, Warkworth, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $4,750.
5. (17) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $3,500.
6. (13) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $2,975.
7. (12) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ontario, Dodge, 298, $2,575.
8. (7) Doug Brown, Brantford, Ontario, Dodge, 298, $2,520.
9. (19) John Gaunt, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 297, $2,400.
10. (8) Jim Lapcevich, Hamilton, Ontario, Chevrolet, 296, $2,310.
11. (20) Jason White, Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Chevrolet, 293, $1,970.
12. (15) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ontario, Dodge, 278, motor, $1,850.
13. (11) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Quebec, Ford, 266, motor, $1,760.
14. (18) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ontario, Pontiac, 254, $1,700.
15. (10) Don Thomson, Jr., Ayr, Ontario, Chevrolet, 247, $1,620.
16. (14) Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, N.S., Chevrolet, 243, steering, $1,560.
17. (1) Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ontario, Chevrolet, 228, rear end, $3,000.
18. (2) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ontario, Ford, 170, $1,450.
19. (5) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ontario, Dodge, 72, accident, $2,390.
20. (6) Ron Van Es, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Chevrolet, 72, suspension, $1,330.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 49 minutes 16 seconds
Margin of Victory: .852 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: P.Gibbons (80.548 mph, 14.883 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 63 laps.
Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: K.Micks 1-5; P.Gibbons 6-28; K.Micks 29-34; P.Gibbons 35-206; D.Kennington 207-208; P.Gibbons 209; D.Kennington 210-222; P.Gibbons 223-227; D.Kennington 228-231; J.Fitzpatrick 232-262; M.Dilley 263-300.
Standings: 1. A.Ranger, 1746; 2. D.Kennington, 1705; 3. J.Fitzpatrick, 1616; 4.
P.Gibbons, 1600; 5. D.Thomson,Jr., 1591; 6. K.Micks, 1575; 7. M.Dilley, 1556; 8. D.Lynch, 1548; 9. J.Hathaway, 1501; 10. D.Whitlock, 1464.
ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS 300 POSTPONED
by Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations
UPDATE: Sunday Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m. IT"S A GO!
Check the Riverside Speedway site for full details.
ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia (Sept. 15, 2007) – Inclement weather forced the postponement of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 scheduled for Saturday evening at Riverside International Speedway.
Rain and wind moved into the area over the late afternoon hours on Saturday causing NASCAR and track officials to move the event to Sunday afternoon.
Bud Pole qualifying will be held at noon, local time, on Sunday and the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 will get underway at 3:15 p.m.
The Canadian Tire Series cars were able to get in a two-hour practice session earlier in the day. In that session, Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) turned in the quickest lap at 14.734 seconds (81.363 mph). D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Krispy Kreme Dodge) was second-quick at 14.749 seconds.
ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS 300 NOTES
by Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations
Ø The race … This event is the 11th race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio in 2007. It will mark the Canadian Tire Series’ first visit to Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces. It will also complete the five-province (Alberta, B.C., Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec) tour this season. Local racer Donald Chisholm will be making his series debut in the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300.
Ø The track … Riverside Speedway originally opened in 1969 and was modeled after the legendary Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. In 2005, the track was completely demolished and rebuilt including a new racing surface, concrete walls, lighting, grandstands and control tower. Like its counterpart, Riverside features high-banked turns with the turns having 14 degrees of banking. The front stretch is 440-feet long with a banking of six degrees while the back stretch is also 440 feet but with a five-degree banking. Ø Unknown quantity … None of the regular Canadian Tire Series competitors have in-depth knowledge of Riverside Speedway making the two early Saturday afternoon practices crucial. Additionally, the teams coming off last week’s ATTO 300 at Barrie Speedway will have to make any necessary repairs quickly before having to get the haulers on the road by midweek.
Ø Ticket information … For more information about tickets for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300, call the speedway at (902) 863-2410 or visit online at www.riversidespeedway.ca.
Fast Facts
What: Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300,NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race # 11.
Where: Riverside Speedway, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15.
Track layout: 1/3-mile oval. Distance: 300 Laps, 99.99 miles.
Posted Awards: $88,354 CAD
2006 winner: Inaugural event.
2006 polesitter: Inaugural event.
Records: To be established in inaugural event.
Pre-race schedule: Practice, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Qualifying: 3:30 p.m.
Note: All times subject to change.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Top 10: 1. Andrew Ranger 1622; 2. D.J. Kennington 1535; 3. Peter Gibbons 1478; 4. Don Thomson, Jr. 1473; 5. Kerry Micks 1461; 6. J.R. Fitzpatrick 1441; 7. Derek Lynch 1388; 8. Mark Dilley 1371; 9. Jason Hathaway 1355; 10. Dave Whitlock 1309
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