August 31, 2008- Nelles Corners Ontario- Appin, Ontario driver Jason Hathaway and the Team 3 Red/EHR Snap-on Tools Dodge battled back from a list of hurdles yesterday on their way to earning their second best finish of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tires Series in The Coke Zero 200.
The 3/8 of a mile fast oval track, located near Hamilton, has not been a great track for the Team this season. Hathaway’s Team lead by Giulio Montanari was certainly out to change that yesterday. The hurdles started early for the Team, beginning in practice when Hathaway felt something wrong not quite right with his motor. After a disappointing 15th place practice result, the Team inspected the motor and made the call to pull the motor and replace it with another one. The motor exchange caused the Team to miss their qualifying session and placed Hathaway at the rear of the field for the start of the 200 lap event.
A miscue on pit road and an on track incident at the start of the race put Hathaway 2 laps down to the 22 car field only 6 laps into the race. The Team 3 Red/EHR team focused and rallied behind their driver. Lap times on the #3 Snap-on Tools Dodge were quick and numerous times throughout the night Hathaway was the fastest racing machine on the race track.
Lady Luck made her first appearance for the Team when they were awarded the “Free Pass-Lucky Dog Award” not once but twice before lap 85. Hathaway’s driving effort paid off; giving him back the 2 laps he went down earlier in the race and placed him back on the lead lap.
Hathaway brought his Dodge onto pit road on lap 164 to the attention of his crew in the 12th running spot on the track. The crew didn’t let Hathaway down changing right side tires, fuelling the car to take Hathaway to the end, lining their #3 Snap on Tools Dodge back up on the track for the 30 lap shoot out in the 10th spot. Hathaway’s restarts were excellent all night and they really came through at the end of the race with a series of caution periods. Hathaway put on a show for the crowd racing each and every corner and straight away and putting his car three wide twice to make an awesome pass for position. After a long and hard fought event at Cayuga, Hathaway posted his second top 5 finish of the year finishing 4th.
“We got behind early, but we never gave up” Hathaway admitted getting out of his car in tech lane. “The guys worked hard to get this motor changed this afternoon and it was up to me to show them what all their hard work could accomplish. We also moved solidly into the top 10 in points this weekend. I’m really happy that Ray Lavender from Snap-on was here to see our awesome finish, without their support and our other sponsors we won’t be able to do this each and every week.”
“I am really proud of his whole team tonight” said Team owner Ed Hakonson. “Our third place finish at Trois Rivieres backed up by this awesome effort by Jason tonight really shows what this Team is capable of. Jason drove the wheels off his car tonight and it was so great to see. There wasn’t a better show on the track than watching him work his way from the back to the front. The pit crew was flawless, Giulio’s calls from the top of the box were on the money and our spotter Ray kept Jason out of trouble on the track. This was a great effort this weekend by everyone.”
The next event for Team 3 Red/EHR on the 13 race schedule is at the tight bullring of Barrie Speedway next weekend September 5, 2008.
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Team 3 Red/EHR is proud to be associated with their great sponsors and supporters. Team 3 Red/EHR thanks Snap-on Tools, Super 8 Motels, Advantex Freight Forwarders, Fast Eddie Racewear, Choko Motorsports, Castrol, Napoleon Fireplaces & Barbeques, Xilarate Sports Fluid, Praxair, BOSCH Canada and Dayco Canada. For more information on our sponsors please visit our website at www.team3red.com
From Team 3 Red/HER
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