Barrie: Don Thompson Jr race notes

HOME HARDWARE TEAM SETS NEW TRACK RECORD, SCORES PODIUM FINISH AT BARRIE

June 29, 2008. Don Thomson Jr. and the Home Hardware Chevrolet team knew they built a fast race car for the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) season. This past weekend at Barrie Speedway they showed just how fast their car can be setting a new one lap qualifying record, and coming home with their second straight podium finish.

During practice on the 1/3 mile track the handling conditions of the car did not particularly suit the driver. However when came time to put in one good lap for time trials the Home Hardware Chevy driver came through. Thomson posted a new lap record time of 13.903 seconds or a speed of 86.266 miles per hour. "It was a really good lap and that's what we needed to get a starting spot up front" said the driver.

As the green flag dropped Thomson would surrender the lead and re take it a couple of times during the first part of the race. "After only a few laps the car started having a really tight condition. We tried to free it up and free it up but it never really worked" said the driver.

A tight race car was not the only problem the Home Hardware Chevrolet team would encounter. As Thomson was battling through the always tough traffic at Barrie Speedway he was nudged from behind and sent spinning between turns three and four. Always calm under pressure Thomson got his car turnaround quickly without losing lap. The Home Hardware team completed quick service and had their car back into the fight.

With fresh tires and a driver doing all he could to maintain control of a feisty race car second place was a satisfying result for the Home Hardware team. "Pretty proud of finishing second here" said Thomson afterwards. "The Home Hardware team did a great job trying to adjust the car and get it the where we wanted. This is a new car, it's only raced twice and we still have a few things to sort out. But it was a great qualifying lap an a good result in the race for us".

With the second place finish, Thomson now sits second in the overall driver standings.

The 2008 NCATS schedule has expanded to thirteen events this year run on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits across Canada. The next event will be the rescheduled event for the Autodrome St. Eustache, this coming Saturday, July 5th. You can watch all thirteen races this season on TSN. For information about the NCATS including schedule, results and more, log onto www.nascar.ca

-credit: hht