Barrie: Dave Whitlock race notes

MOTOR PROBLEM ENDS WHITLOCKS DAY EARLY
Team looks forward to return to St. Eustache

WYOMING, ON, Thursday July 3, 2008: Motor problems in the A & W 300, round three of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, would have the Whitlock Motorsports/Dickies/NMT Dodge Avenger behind the wall early on Saturday night at Barrie Speedway.

The No. 39 team were off a bit in the rain shortened practice session, so they made a few adjustments prior to time trials. Whitlock went out and set fifth quickest time. "We made some changes to the car and I really didn't push it very hard on the first lap until I knew how the car was going to handle," said Whitlock. 'Lap two was quicker and I still didn't use everything we had."

Whitlock would line up 5th -- third row on the inside for the start of the A & W 300. The Dickies/NMT/PCRFC Dodge settled into sixth early in the event and would eventually move back to the fifth position before being run high by another competitor into turn three. This caused a caution and Whitlock fell into line for the restart in thirteenth. On lap 63 when the motor expired he had worked his way back inside the top ten again. "This is a disappointing day for us," stated Whitlock after the race. "I had just radioed my crew to tell them the car was really handling well and we were moving back up through the field, taking our time, when the motor let go." A 21st finishing position was the result.

Fellow Dodge Avenger driver Scott Steckly won his second of the year and three of the last four, followed by Don Thomson Jr. in second and D. J. Kennington in third. Whitlock teammate Mark Dilley finished eighth.

The A & W 300 will be broadcast on TSN on Sunday July 6th at 2:30 p.m.

Next up for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams is a return trip to Autodrome St. Eustache which was rained out on the originally scheduled date of May 31st. The Whitlock team know this track well and had two wins and two poles in CASCAR Super Series competition at this tight .400 mile oval track. For more information on the Kodak 250 please visit www.autodrome.ca.

For more information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series please visit www.nascar.ca

-credit; www.whitlockmotorsports.com