Monday, May 28, 2007

NCATS CAYUGA: LATE RACE SPIN FOILS STRONG RUN BY BROWN

BRANTFORD, ON - A late race spin spoiled an otherwise impressive run by Brantford’s Doug Brown in Saturday’s Dodge 200 at Cayuga Speedway.

It was the first race of the new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series’ season for the veteran competitor and his first in his new Mopar-powered Dodge Charger sponsored by Haldex Limited.

Brown started eighth in the 23-car field and raced with the leaders throughout the first 180 plus laps of the 200-lap event taking the lead on lap 106 through 111 then slipping to second behind Appin, Ontario’s Jason Hathaway before regaining the lead again on lap 113 until eventual winner Don Thomson Jr. caught and passed him on lap 122.

Unfortunately, late race contact with several cars while trying to pass former open-wheel star Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Quebec forced Brown to the rough infield grass and created an electrical short in the car with just 12 laps remaining. The crew worked feverishly to detect the problem while the frustrated driver sat helplessly behind the wheel. He was credited with a fourteenth place finish.

“I must have run over some debris or bottomed out in the infield when I got spun,” Doug reported following the race”. “There was no power right after I got back on the racing surface”.

Following Don Thomson of Ayr, Ontario in his Home Hardware Monte Carlo across the finish line on Saturday was the Dodge of Barrie’s Mark Dilley and the Monte Carlo of Series-sponsor Peter Gibbons of Stouffville, Ontario.

Despite the letdown, Doug Brown was surprisingly upbeat when reviewing his efforts.

“It sure wasn’t the results we’d hoped for but it was the most comfortable and confident ride I’ve ever had at this track”, he confided. “The car handled extremely well, the Leitch-built engine was strong all day and I really believe we can give a strong performance for our sponsors in each of the remaining eleven races.”

The Haldex/NAPA Autopro Dodge was quick off the hauler with Brown recording third quickest time in the pre-race practice sessions. “I just couldn’t get the right grip on sticker tires in the two-lap time trial session to better my time,” he added when explaining his eighth-place start.

Doug sits 13th in the early season points’ standing as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series heads to the next event at Mosport International Raceway on June 16-17 – a test that is expected to draw an added number of drivers anxious to test their racing skills on the historic 10-turn road course.

HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor role. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team.

Prepared by Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations, HB Motorsports

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