EIGHTH IN TROIS
RIVIERES FOR DAVE WHITLOCK
Trois Rivieres, Monday August 7,
2006: Dave Whitlock driving the #39 NTN-Bower/Griddly
Headz/Nitrex Metal Technologies Dodge Charger posted
another top ten finish on a road course with an eighth
at Trois Rivieres, while Don Thomson Jr. took the win.
"This event is great," stated Whitlock. "The
grandstands were full every time we were on the track
and the fans are so enthusiastic."
The two practice sessions on Friday
had Whitlock scored in twelfth and then seventh so the
car continued to improve. Saturday's qualifying session
left the #39 driver a little disappointed as they were
scored in eleventh and that is where they would line up
on Sunday for the start of the Arctic Cat 100. The team
worked into the evening hours Saturday making changes to
the #39 Charger as they knew that forty two laps on this
track was going to be a big challenge.
When the green flag dropped, Whitlock
was able to miss the melee that took place between
several drivers before the first turn and quickly
settled into the seventh position. Top contenders, D.J.
Kennington, Kerry Micks and Jeff Lapcevich were out
early leaving the door open for others to move up. The
top seven ran nose to tail for the first half of the
race after which the first four checked out on the rest
of the field. During the closing laps Whitlock
experienced braking problems and was forced to lay back
a little allowing the #3 of Jason Hathaway to take the
seventh position. After that the #39 cruised to an
eighth place finish. "The car started out real strong,"
stated Whitlock. "We were running with the leaders no
problem but the last few laps we had to take it a little
easy as the brakes started to go away. We were really
gunning for a top five today but our three cars finished
in the top twelve so that is a satisfying day." Teammate
Mark Dilley finished fifth with Pierre Bourque crossing
the line in twelfth.