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Whitlock fastest, sidelined
at CASCAR Mopar 300 Calgary, AB – Jul 25 2005: The cars and stars of the CASCAR Super Series are now in their annual ‘western swing’ and as they do every year, followed the police escort Thursday through downtown streets for the annual Super 8 Motels Pit Stop Challenge. The team of DJ Kennington was fastest, Mark Dilley’s team was 3rd and Dave Whitlock’s 4th. No team came close to the Whitlock record of two years ago. Practice and timed qualifying began Friday and Dave Whitlock nabbed the fastest time and pole position for Saturday’s Mopar 300. But another feature of the Race City weekend is the full-points twin Mopar 100 events Friday evening that determine starting positions for the 300. In his sprint race, Whitlock started from the pole and led most of the way. But the last-lap duel with Peter Gibbons saw the two Champions slide high in turn 3 while local Ford racer Kevin Dowler slipped through for the win; Whitlock 2nd. The other Mopar 100 was won by Kerry Micks. It’s Saturday night, and it’s time for the annual Mopar 300 at Race City. During the early stages, Whitlock’s Avenue / NMT Dodge Charger was too loose and by the time the first caution waved at lap 104, the #39 Dodge had backed up to 7th. But an awesome effort again by the record-holding pit-stop team of Whitlock had him back on the track in 2nd spot. And a pit infraction by leader Ron Beauchamp Jr. meant Whitlock paced that restart. “She was perfect then” said Dave Whitlock. “I was able to comfortably stay in the lead and drive my line.” Whitlock paced the field for the next 56 laps until he suddenly had engine failure and was done at lap 169, credited with a 25th spot finish. “That’s real disappointing. We haven’t looked at it yet, but I suspect a part failure down inside. That’s sure not the way I figured we’d end up. But this is the first engine failure since we switched to Dodge back in 2003. So I guess that’s a good thing!! We’ll get another one in Ole Spin and be ready for Vernon this weekend.” |
DJ Kennington became a first-time Calgary winner in his Castrol Dodge, followed by Pete Gibbons’ Chevy and the Taurus of Dave Jacombs. But for many others, it was a tough weekend too. Whitlock team-mate Mark Dilley had wheel problems on his #9 Dodge Power Water Charger, Kerry Micks had a suspension part failure, and Don Thompson Jr lost an engine just 5 laps from the end. Next CASCAR Super Series race: July 29-30 Sun Valley Speedway - Vernon, BC.
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