By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports Communications
For the last 2 years, Kawartha Speedway has played host to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship clinching event. In 2007, JR Fitzpatrick earned the title in a thrilling 250 lap showdown. Last year, it was Scott Steckly’s turn to lay claim to the king’s crown, in a rain-shortened show. Again this year, the 3/8th mile oval at Fraserville, Ontario will wrap-up the year on Canada’s only national stock car racing tour with a 250 lap shootout Saturday, September 26th. Wednesday, May 13th the track welcomed close to a dozen of the country’s best runners for a day-long test session.
Bright, sunny conditions with a brisk breeze gave the drivers and teams a chance to experience a variety of track conditions. The Snap-On Tools #3 of 2008 race winner Jason Hathaway was the first to arrive, followed by the #77 Dodge Avenger, driven by Kawartha’s General Manager/Promoter Derek Lynch. After that, the infield pit area filled quickly as a variety of teams took advantage of an opportunity to put their machines to their paces on the country’s premier stock car racing facility.
The entire test session was incident-free, with teams filling their notebooks and laptops with useful data. Springs and shocks were swapped. Air pressures adjusted and tire stagger changed – all in the hope of gaining a slight advantage when the green flag drops to open the 2009 season – Saturday, May 23rd at Autodrome St. Eustache.
For details on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule, follow the link at www.nascarlocalracing.com. Learn more about Kawartha Speedway by visiting www.kawarthaspeedway.com.
Photo attachments: (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
#1). 2008 Kawartha race winner Jason Hathaway turned some fast laps in his #3 Snap-On Tools Dodge during the May 13th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series test at Kawartha.
#2). Multi-time champion Don Thomson Jr. and team mate JR Fitzpatrick brought their Chevrolet Impala machines to the practise session.
#3). DJ Kennington’s young team mate Joey Hanssen turned his first ever Kawartha Speedway laps during the pre-season test Wednesday, May 13th.
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