Barrie: Andrew Ranger race notes

RANGER FINISHES TOP TEN AGAIN IN BARRIE'S ATTO 300

BARRIE, ON: Finishing in the top ten seems to be the order of the day for Roxton Pond, Quebec's Andrew Ranger . Ten events in and he has posted one win, four seconds, seven top 5's and nine top 10's. Saturday's outing at Barrie Speedway for the Atto 300 was no different as he finished sixth. Only once in ten events this year has the No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide/Jacombs Racing prepared Ford Fusion finished out of the top ten and that was a thirteenth place finish at Mosport Speedway last month. It is this consistency that has allowed him to retain the points lead since the second event of the season.

Ranger practiced and qualified a little lower on the charts than they would have liked and when they lined up for pre-race ceremonies and the start of the event he was fourteenth on the grid. The driver of the No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Fusion would start moving up through the field and by lap 100 had moved into the top six. When the caution flew on lap 195, Ranger was running in fifth and he decided it was time for the crew to do their work. During the ensuing pit stop Ranger was found to have pitted outside his pit box and was assessed a one lap penalty. On the re-start he would be scored in the twelfth position one lap down to the leaders. Perseverance and some advice from veteran owner Jacombs saw Ranger work his way back to the lead lap by way of the "beneficiary award" on lap 245 and from there he was able to make his way to their final finishing position of sixth. "We have a great driver behind the wheel," stated Jacombs after the race. "Andrew got a little frustrated by the penalty but he came back from adversity, got the lucky dog to get back on the lead lap and finish sixth. At Barrie I would consider that a good accomplishment."

-credit: jr