Montréal, Québec (May 28, 2007) - Richard Durivage's maiden start in the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Presented by Sirius Satellite Radio, Saturday night's Dodge Dealers 200 at Cayuga Speedway Park, Ontario, may have ended 50-laps shy of the checkered but taking the green flag earlier in the evening marked a small victory for the Québec-based outfit.
A week before the opening round of the 12-race series, Trident Racing's #18 Chevrolet Monte-Carlo looked like it might have to sit out the season-opener as team boss Richard Durivage was faced with the challenge of sourcing a new crew-chief. Showcasing the same determination he displays in business and behind the wheel of a race car, the 38-year-old from Montreal endured a busy seven days to ensure he wouldn't miss out on a historical evening for Canadian stock car racing.
With a complete pit crew successfully assembled by the week's end, Durivage headed to the 5/8-mile oval track situated just outside Hagersville, Ontario for Saturday's first ever NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event. Given the drama of the week before, Durivage was satisfied to have made the grid and would start the 200-lap race from 23rd with pole going to D.J. Kennington in the #45 Dodge entry, his lap time of 20.785s (108.251mph) edging out last season's final CASCAR Champion, J.R. Fitzpatrick for the Bud Pole Award.
In the race itself a top-ten finish was looking good, Durivage comfortably remaining on the lead-lap, before an electrical short-out in the #18's radio control box resulted in NASCAR black-flagging the Québec racer on lap 150. With no line of communication between driver and spotter, Durivage was forced to retire on safety grounds, the team opening the season with a 17th place classified finish.
Five-time CASCAR Champion Don Thomson Jr. collected the first win of the new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series era, the Ayr, Ontario native beating Mark Dilley to the checkered by 0.126 seconds in a race that boasted sixteen lead changes amongst eight drivers.
"Well we've kicked the season off pretty much where we left it last year at Cayuga," reflected Durivage. "We're seventeenth in the points which considering what we had to go through to get here in the past week isn't too bad. I think a top-ten finish was on the cards but it wasn't to be. Overall I think we put on a good show for the fans, everything was very professional looking and it was a great race. I can't wait to go to Mosport now!"
From Stuart Morrison Public Relations
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