Barrie: JR Fitzpatrick race notes

JR FITZPATRICK FEELS THE POWER IN HIS FIRST RUN IN A DODGE

June 29, 2008. John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick and the #84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports have never been the kind of team to rest on their accomplishments. So despite winning the previous NASCAR Canadian Tire series race, the team completed a much discussed switch to a Dodge Avenger for the first time this past weekend at Barrie Speedway.

Right from the first laps behind the wheel while testing during the week the difference in horsepower was evident. "It's really amazing how the car pulls down the straightaway" said Fitzpatrick. "We got this car from DJ Kennington and they have a very good program, we jut made some driver comfort adjustments mostly before we came here to Barrie".

Still getting used to the differences in the new car J.R. only managed a twelfth starting spot during qualifying, but the extra horsepower showed right away during the race. "I knew I had a good car, in the beginning I went from twelfth up to about seventh in ten laps, I was just riding around on the high side, but some other guys were doing some crazy things."

Some of the other aggressive maneuvers would collect up the #84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports Dodge in the early going as he was spun into the outside wall out of turn four. "The toe got bent a couple of times, but the big hit bent the motor mount and we weren't able to get the full use of the throttle after that, the car was only revving about 5,000 rpm. It was pretty crazy out there and I had trouble with my radio so I thought the only safe thing to do was come in and get it fixed, the last thing I wanted to do was be a hazard or cause a problem for the other guys, I hope they all use some of that kind of common sense.

Overall the team was pleased with their first outing in the Dodge and will now head back to the shop top prepare for the next event. "We want to take some time and digest what we learned before deciding on our next move, we're in pretty good shape in the points and that will affect our decisions going forward".

With a twelfth place finish at Barrie, J.R. Fitzpatrick sits fifth in the overall driver standings.

J.R Fitzpatrick and the Fitzpatrick Motorsports team will be back looking for victory on Saturday July 5th with the rescheduled event for he Autodrome St. Eustache. The 2008 schedule will take teams to the east coast and western Canada where Fitzpatrick swept away the competition last year. All races will once again be broadcast on TSN. More information on the series can be obtained by visiting www.nascar.ca

-credit: fm