WHITLOCK SURVIVES FIRST LAP INCIDENT TO FINISH FIFTH

St. Eustache, QC Sunday July 12, 2009: Dave Whitlock returned to Autodrome St. Eustache this weekend hoping to come out with the same result as earlier this year when he won his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race. The result was not a win but a solid performance by Whitlock had the No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge Avenger driver taking the checkered flag in the Tide 250 in fifth.

Whitlock, who announced his retirement from racing the week before winning his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race here at Autodrome St. Eustache in May, started the delayed event from the twelfth starting position. The sold out Tide 250 at Autodrome St. Eustache was scheduled for Saturday but persistent thunder storms had NASCAR calling off the show and rescheduling it for Sunday afternoon.

A first lap altercation between two cars including fan favourite Jacques Villeneuve, caused some damage to the No. 39 machine. Whitlock came to pit road and with the help from some duct tape the crew was able to get the Dickies Avenger back on track at the tail end of the field with nothing but cosmetic damage.

Then it was up to Crew Chief Warren Jones and the Dickies crew to work on getting the car to handle to Whitlock’s satisfaction and get him back to the front. Another stop around lap 80 had the pit crew topping up the fuel and making some chassis adjustments. It wasn’t until Whitlock got right side tires and another adjustment late in the race that the car was finally where he wanted it to be. The No. 39 Dickies/NMT driver then manoeuvred his Dodge Avenger up to fifth at the checkered flag.

“We had a decent enough car all day but the tires and that last adjustment we made finally got the car where I wanted to be,” said Whitlock after the race. “We’re happy with the fifth place finish and that should help us in the points as well.”

Finish: 1. Scott Steckly 2. D.J. Kennington 3. John Gaunt 4. Andrew Ranger.

Whitlock remains in sixth in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points just eight markers out of the top five.

The Tide 250 from Autodrome St. Eustache will be broadcast on TSN on Sunday July 19th at 2 p.m. EST. Check local listings for times in your area.

Whitlock with teammates Mark Dilley and Pierre Bourque now prepare to kick off the three race Western Canada swing next weekend at Sun Valley Speedway in Vernon, British Columbia. A week later the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams compete at the Rexall Edmonton Indy in Alberta. The three race swing winds up with the first ever appearance by the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Auto Clearing Speedway in Saskatoon, SK on Wednesday July 29th.