Thomson Takes Barrie... Collects First Win In 2009
BARRIE, Ont. – In typical Barrie Speedway fashion, Don Thomson Jr. won the Torbram Electric 300 presented by The Source in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 action on Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd.
Racing in Barrie is the epitome of short-track competition, but it suits the veteran Thomson just fine. He led a race-high 106 laps on the cozy .333-mile tri-oval and took his Home Hardware Chevrolet to Victory Lane for the first time this season as he beat Mark Dilley to the line by .180 seconds. It was Thomson’s fifth series career win and his first since last September.
Scott Steckly led a fair portion of the final third of the race, but with just 18 laps remaining, Simone and Beauchamp made contact in Turn 2 and blocked in Steckly causing him to lose the race lead to Thomson before eventually finishing third.
Brad Graham finished a season-best fourth followed by Jason Hathaway in fifth.
Kerry Micks, John Gaunt, Joey Hanssen, Andrew Ranger and DJ Kennington rounded out the top 10.
There were 16 lead changes involving eight drivers. The race was slowed eight times due to caution for a total of 83 laps. At Lap 225, there was one red flag that lasted four minutes and 14 seconds while track workers cleaned up the track.
In the championship point standings, Ranger extended his lead over Kennington to 138 points heading into the final two races of the season.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 heads east for next week’s Komatsu 300 at Riverside International Speedway in Antigonish, N.S.
From Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations
NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by MOBIL 1-Torbram Electric 300 presented by The Source UNOFFICIAL Results
Saturday
At Barrie Speedway
Barrie, Ontario
Lap length: 0.333 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (9) Don Thomson, Jr., Hamilton, Ont., Chevrolet, 300 laps, 56.995 mph, $8,500.
2. (2) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 300, $7,000.
3. (3) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 300, $4,500.
4. (7) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ont., Dodge, 300, $4,700.
5. (12) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 300, $3,300.
6. (6) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 300, $2,600.
7. (14) John Gaunt, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 299, $2,500.
8. (19) Joey Hanssen, Venray, Holland, Dodge, 299, $3,400.
9. (10) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Ford, 294, $2,300.
10. (4) DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 286, $2,200.
11. (5) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 277, $2,000.
12. (1) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Chevrolet, 272, $1,800.
13. (8) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ont., Dodge, 270, $1,700.
14. (17) Howie Scannell, Jr., Milton, Ont., Dodge, 239, engine, $1,650.
15. (13) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Chevrolet, 200, engine, $1,600.
16. (18) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Chevrolet, 173, transmission, $1,500.
17. (11) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ont., Chevrolet, 140, differential, $1,450.
18. (20) Dexter Stacey, Kahnawake, Que., Pontiac, 133, $1,400.
19. (15) Cale Gale, Mobile, Ala., Chevrolet, 78, engine, $1,350.
20. (16) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 24, suspension, $1,200.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 45 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: .180 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: A. Simone (83.592 mph, 14.341 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 83 laps.
Lead Changes: 16 among 8 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M. Dilley 1-8; A. Simone 9-12; M. Dilley 13-18; A. Simone 19-21; M. Dilley 22-29; K. Micks 30; M. Dilley 31-37; A. Simone 38-71; D. Thomson,Jr. 72-162; J. Gaunt 163-171; D. Whitlock 172; J. Gaunt 173; J. Hathaway 174-196; S. Steckly 197-282; D. Thomson,Jr. 283-292; M. Dilley 293-295; D. Thomson,Jr. 296-300.
Standings: 1. A. Ranger, 1862; 2. D. Kennington, 1724; 3. R. Beauchamp,Jr., 1693; 4. S. Steckly, 1676; 5. K. Micks, 1621; 6. D. Thomson,Jr., 1565; 7. A. Simone, 1530; 8. J. Hathaway, 1519; 9. M. Dilley, 1470; 10. D. Whitlock, 1466.
