May 24, 2009. DJ Kennington and #17 the Castrol Dodge team were among the quickest cars on the track during round one of the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at the Autodrome St. Eustache near Montreal, Quebec this past weekend. Unfortunately for the Castrol Dodge team an engine bug would keep them from achieving the expected results.
During afternoon practice Kennington would continue to show the pace he’d demonstrated in pre season testing with Castrol Dodge. DJ would qualify the #17 Avenger on the outside of row one for the 250 lap main event. Shortly into the race he’d find himself in a much different position. “I don’t know what happened” said perplexed diver. “I was just working my way around a lapped car and I guess he misjudged something and that sent us to the back. Fortunately it didn’t set us back too bad” said the always optimistic driver.
Now back in the pack but still very early in the race Kennington set about moving the #17 Castrol Dodge back into contention. “The car was really good” said Kennington. “I knew we had a lot of time left in the race so I just made sure that I kept my nose clean and took my time going forward” he added. With a little help from several caution flags Kennington would move the Castrol Dodge back into it’s rightful place near the front of the field before the race was even 100 laps old.
The race would finally have a long green flag run in the second half and the Castrol Dodge was up near the front but began to experience handling difficulty. “The car started to tighten up a bit as we went on a bit and I had to slow it down” said the driver. “I just tried to stay smooth and hopefully have something left for the late stages” he added. Unfortunately Kennington would not get the opportunity to see what he had left.
As Kennington continued to race the #17 Castrol Dodge within the top three, without warning the car suddenly slowed coming out of corner number two and rolled silently to a stop on pit road. The engine off, their night was over. The team would be classified 16th at the end. “I don’t know what happened” said a disappointed driver. “We might have broken a distributor or something I don’t know, but we’ll get back to the shop and get rid of these gremlins and be ready to go at Delaware” he stated.
Kennington is excited to be racing at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario again where he cut his racing teeth. “I’m really looking forward to Delaware and we’ll be fast I guarantee it” he stated emphatically. “We’ll keep digging to find out what the problem is and we’ll be ready I promise”.
Round number two of the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire series will take place Saturday, June 6th at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario. Other events this year will also include events at the Edmonton Indy weekend, the NASCAR weekend in Montreal and new tracks for this season, Auto Clearing Speedway in Saskatoon and Delaware Speedway. Once again this season each race will be broadcast on TSN.
Attached Photo Caption: #17 Castrol Dodge lined up to qualify at St. Eustache
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
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