WHITLOCK RACES DICKIES
DODGE AVENGER BEFORE LARGE CROWD IN TROIS RIVIERES
Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Monday August 18, 2008:
Dave Whitlock and his No.39 Dickies/NMT/PCRFC Dodge
Avenger team were on track for a top five finish on
Sunday in the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres 100 when
two spinning cars on the track caused him to take
evasive action resulting in a drive train problem.
Dave Whitlock continues to hone his road racing
skills and the team was very pleased with their
ninth place qualifying effort on Saturday. NASCAR
road race qualifying has half the cars on the track
at one time for a fifteen minute timed session. With
fourteen cars on the track it can be difficult to
get all the way around the 10 turn, 1.53 mile
circuit without encountering another car which can
slow down your time. "I know the car has more in
it," stated Whitlock after qualifying. "I only got
two clean laps early in the session before other
cars started playing a factor."
Sunday's Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres 100 was run
in front of a packed grandstand of appreciative race
fans. On the first lap on the tight racing surface,
Whitlock got shuffled back a few positions but he
knew it was early going. By lap 21 of the 42 lap
event he was solidly in the top ten and moving
forward. A few short laps later, two spinning cars
in front of him caused the No. 39 driver to take
evasive action. When Whitlock went to pull away from
the incident something in the drive train broke and
he was done for the day. "I am disappointed for my
team and sponsors today, but when a new part breaks
there is not much you can do about it," stated
Whitlock after the race. "We were on track for a top
five finish today. Now we look forward to the final
four oval events and hope to take our No. 39 Dickies
Dodge to victory lane before the end of the year."
Andrew Ranger was able to slip by a spinning
Scott Steckly & J. R. Fitzpatrick on the last turn
of the last lap to take the win with Steckly
recovering for second and Jason Hathaway finishing
third for his first podium finish in the NASCAR
Canadian Tire Series. D.J. Kennington and J.R.
Fitzpatrick would finish fourth and fifth.