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Dilley’s strong run
cut short at Delaware Speedway
Dodge Charger driver ran second until losing power
LONDON, ON
– With two
races to go on the 2005 CASCAR Super Series schedule, Dodge / Mobil 1 /
PowerWater / Exide Dodge Charger driver Mark Dilley is faced with the
dilemma of finding a way to get to the lead in those races, without first
having to be in second place.
Photo by Greg McPherson; Inside Track Motorsport News
On Sunday afternoon
at Delaware Speedway, the Barrie, ON racer once again experienced trouble
while running second. Dilley’s #9 Dodge started fifth in the 32-car field
after a solid qualifying effort and was cruising comfortably behind his
Whitlock Motorsports teammate Dave Whitlock on lap 66 of the 300-lap Great
Canadian Race at the London, ON-area half-mile oval when he was forced to
the pits by a loss of power.
“The car was really
fast and we were just happy to be running second behind Dave [Whitlock] in
the early part of the race,” said Dilley, who soldiered on to a 19th-place
finish in the final results. “We weren’t using up the car at all and we
were cruising close to the lead. But it looks like we broke some rocker
arms in the engine. We were really feeling good about the race until
then.”
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Dilley continued,
“It’s frustrating because we’ve had trouble while running second a few
times this season. I just need to figure out a way to jump from third to
first and avoid being in second place altogether, because it’s just been
bad luck for us to be there.”
Following 10 events,
Dilley’s #9 Dodge Charger is seventh in the Super Series points chase,
with two races remaining.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The consummate
racer, Dilley quickly put the frustrations of Delaware behind him and
turned his attention to next weekend’s race at Cayuga Speedway. The event
was scheduled for earlier in the season, but was postponed by rain to this
Saturday night (Sept. 10).
At this point, the
Dodge / PowerWater / Mobil 1 / Exide / Dodge Charger driver is looking to
finish strong and begin preparations for next season. “We’re going to get
the car fixed up and be ready to go hard at Cayuga. We’re looking to
finish strong. There’s no reason we shouldn’t. We want to get a couple of
good finishes to end the season and look ahead to 2006.”
RACE NOTES:
Peter Gibbons won
the Great Canadian 300 at Delaware for the sixth time in his career on
Sunday afternoon. The veteran racer overcame brake trouble en route to the
victory in front of a huge Labour Day crowd at the half-mile Delaware
oval.
Second-place went to
Super Series points leader Don Thomson Jr. Jeff Lapcevich earned the final
podium position. RESULTS |
