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 VERNON,
BC – Brad Graham won the Castrol 300 CASCAR Super Series
race at Sun Valley Speedway on Sunday afternoon. With the
victory, the Challenger / Logel’s Dodge Charger driver became
the third first-time Super Series winner in four races in
2006.
Heading into the final laps of the 300-lap race at
the Vernon, BC half-mile tri-oval, Graham was in a familiar
and somewhat uncomfortable position. Graham had taken the
lead from points leader J.R. Fitzpatrick on lap 296 and
found himself in the lead with veteran racer DJ Kennington
hot on his heels.
In 2005, in this race, Kennington passed Graham with
just three laps to go, thereby denying the Glencoe, ON racer
his first trip to victory lane on CASCAR’s top circuit.
This time, however, Graham would not be denied. At the finish,
the former Sportsman Series champ beat Kennington’s Castrol
Dodge Charger across the finish line by 0.647 seconds to
earn his first-ever Super Series win.
“I knew it was DJ [Kennington] behind me again,” said
Graham, after the race. “It wasn’t going to happen to me
twice. This track kind of owed me one. It feels pretty awesome
to win, for me and my whole family, who have been supportive
of me doing this for the past 20 years. I’d also like to
thank my five-year sponsor Challenger Motor Freight and
John Logel, who came on last year. We’ve built a top-notch
team together.”
Graham also discussed how he got the #19 Dodge into
position to win. “We had a great car all day, running in
second and third for most of the race. But we got pinned
in our pit stall when we made our stop and ended up at the
back of the lead lap cars. We fought back from there and
drove around J.R. [Fitzpatrick] with five to go.”
With the victory, Graham became the fourth different
winner in as many races in 2006. Scott Steckly, Kerry Micks
and J.R. Fitzpatrick have also collected single checkered
flags so far this season.
J.R. Fitzpatrick (Milwaukee Tools Chevy) finished
third in the Castrol 300, in front of Steckly (ERB Dodge
Charger) and Kerry Micks (Canadian Detailing Services Ford
Taurus).
In addition to being a CASCAR Super Series race, the
Castrol 300 was also a full-points race for the Flo~Pro.com
Western Series. Former Western champion Daryl Harr brought
his Westworld Chevy home in 14th-place to record the top
finish by the Flo~Pro.com tour regulars. The next CASCAR
Super Series / Flo~Pro.com Western Series takes place next
weekend in Edmonton, Alberta, during the Grand Prix of Edmonton
ChampCar race weekend.
QUALIFYING: Time Trials
and Qualifying Sprint Races were held on Saturday at Sun
Valley to set the starting grid for Sunday’s Castrol 300.
Don Thomson Jr. posted the fastest lap during time trials
(18.459 seconds) to set a new Super Series record at the
Vernon, BC track and secure the pole position for Sunday’s
race. Kerry Micks was second quickest, to lock himself into
the second starting spot for the feature event.
In the Twin 100 Sprint Races, Don Thomson dominated
the first heat, leading the final 98 laps en route to the
checkered flag. J.R. Fitzpatrick and Scott Steckly were
second and third, respectively. In the second 100, Kerry
Micks earned the victory, coming home in front of Peter
Gibbons (Canadian Tire Chevy) and Brad Graham.
CASCAR ON TV: For information
regarding initial airings and replays of CASCAR Super Series
races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or
visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.
POINT STANDINGS: CASCAR SUPER SERIES:
Unofficial after 4 events (top 15): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick
(776 pts.); 2. #22 Scott Steckly (761); 3. #02 Kerry Micks
(745); 4. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (731); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock
(716); 6. #10 Doug Brown (715); 6. #19 Brad Graham (715);
8. #17 DJ Kennington (707); 9. #1 Peter Gibbons (682); 10.
#9 Mark Dilley (681); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (677); 12. #60
Ron Beauchamp Jr. (661); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway (652); 14.
#14 John Fitzpatrick (632); 15. #11 Ron VanEs (606)
CASCAR Super Series
RESULTS: Castrol 300 // Round #4 // July 16, 2006
// Sun Valley Speedway
Vernon, British Columbia // 300 Laps // 1/2-mile, banked
tri-oval
| FIN. |
ST. |
# |
DRIVER (HOMETOWN) |
SPONSOR(S) / MAKE |
LAPS |
| 1 |
6 |
19 |
Brad Graham (Glencoe; ON) |
Challenger Motor Freight / Logel’sDodge
Charger |
300 |
| 2 |
17 |
17 |
DJ Kennington (St. Thomas; ON) |
Castrol Dodge Charger |
300 |
| 3 |
3 |
84 |
J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr; ON) |
Milwaukee Tools Chevrolet MonteCarlo |
300 |
| 4 |
5 |
22 |
Scott Steckly (Milverton; ON) |
ERB / AW Millwrights DodgeCharger |
300 |
| 5 |
2 |
02 |
Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert; ON) |
Cdn. Detailing Services FordTaurus |
300 |
| 6 |
4 |
1 |
Peter Gibbons (Stouffville; ON) |
Canadian Tire / Monroe BrakesChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
300 |
| 7 |
15 |
39 |
Dave Whitlock (Wyoming; ON) |
NTN Bower / NMT Dodge Charger |
300 |
| 8 |
21 |
25 |
Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton; ON) |
EMCEA Transport / Tim HortonsChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
300 |
| 9 |
1 |
4 |
Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton; ON) |
Home Hardware Chevrolet MonteCarlo |
300 |
| 10 |
7 |
9 |
Mark Dilley (Barrie; ON) |
Dodge / Mobil 1 / Exide / Leland/ Avenue
M.W. / CRS Dodge Charger |
300 |
| 11 |
12 |
10 |
Doug Brown (Brantford; ON) |
NAPA / AUTOPRO Chevrolet MonteCarlo |
300 |
| 12 |
18 |
11 |
Ron VanEs (Smithville; ON) |
Star Van Systems ChevroletMonte Carlo |
300 |
| 13 |
8 |
3 |
Jason Hathaway (Appin; ON) ® |
Snap-On Tools / ArcticCat / Super 8
Dodge Charger |
299 |
| 14 |
23 |
71 |
Daryl Harr (St. Albert; AB) |
Westworld Computers / GM GoodwrenchChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
299 |
| 15 |
24 |
2 |
Carl Harr (St. Albert; AB) |
Zimmer / Wheaton GMC / GM GoodwrenchChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
298 |
| 16 |
9 |
36 |
Jim White (Kamloops; BC) |
MOPAR / Kamloops Dodge Charger |
297 |
| 17 |
19 |
14 |
John Fitzpatrick (Ayr; ON) |
Latta Cranes Chevrolet MonteCarlo |
297 |
| 18 |
13 |
6 |
Todd Nichol (St. Albert; AB) |
Pennzoil / Rocky MountainSales / SEM
Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
296 |
| 19 |
16 |
30 |
Derek Polack (Stony Plain; AB) |
Bulldog Protective CoatingsChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
295 |
| 20 |
26 |
76 |
Dale Biesick (Lake Country; BC) |
Lake Country Mobile ServicesDodge Charger |
294 |
| 21 |
27 |
26 |
Shaun Polack (Stony Plain; AB) |
Thompson Brothers ChevroletMonte Carlo |
292 |
| 22 |
34 |
09 |
Kent Nuhn (Williamsford; ON) ® |
Nuhn Motorsports PontiacGrand Prix |
290 |
| 23 |
28 |
96 |
Norm Hunger (Delta; BC) |
Skyshot Media Pontiac Grand Prix |
288 |
| 24 |
11 |
79 |
Wade Lee (Calgary; AB) |
Sun Valley Speedway Chevrolet MonteCarlo |
276 |
| 25 |
32 |
24 |
Scott Dennis (Edmonton; AB) ® |
Antrim ConstructionFluid Life Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
274 |
| 26 |
22 |
21 |
Jason White (Sun Peaks; BC) |
Zimmer / Wheaton GMC ChevroletMonte
Carlo |
269 |
| 27 |
31 |
86 |
Shawn Press (Calgary; AB) |
Crestview Homes / All WeatherWindows
Dodge Charger |
266 |
| 28 |
14 |
60 |
Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor; ON) |
MOPAR / Mobil1 / Exide/ Chrysler Jeep
Dodge Svc. Dodge Charger |
262 |
| 29 |
20 |
88 |
Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope; ON) |
Lou's BBQ / CPS Flooring FordTaurus |
261 |
| 30 |
10 |
35 |
Kevin Dowler (Sherwood Park; AB) |
EMCO Ford Taurus |
258 |
| 31 |
37 |
27 |
Mark Derks (Calgary; AB) |
The Derks Corporation ChevroletMonte
Carlo |
218 |
| 32 |
35 |
42 |
Lyle Paulson (Enderby; BC) ® |
New Era Promotion PontiacGrand Prix |
177 |
| 33 |
25 |
87 |
James Ward (Maple Ridge; BC) |
Lordco Racing Ford Taurus |
109 |
| 34 |
30 |
44 |
Randy Kozek (Kelowna; BC) |
Ford Taurus |
98 |
| 35 |
29 |
55 |
Marty White (Kamloops; BC) |
Mack Daddy’s Night Club ChevroletMonte
Carlo |
DNS |
| 36 |
33 |
31 |
Sean Maltman (Vernon; BC) |
Close Call / Dunbar AutomotiveChevrolet
Monte Carlo |
DNS |
| 37 |
36 |
48 |
Chris Dennis (Edmonton; AB) ® |
Antrim Construction/ Fluid Life Corporation
Pontiac Grand Prix |
DNS |
® after the hometown denotes Rookie
contender.
POLESITTER: #4 Don Thomson Jr. (18.459
seconds * New Record) // TIME OF RACE:
2 hours, 24 minutes and 56 seconds // MARGIN OF
VICTORY: 0.647 seconds // CAUTIONS:
11 for a total of 84 laps // LAP LEADERS:
#4 Don Thomson Jr. (1-9), #02 Kerry Micks (10-163), #14
John Fitzpatrick (164-169), #17 DJ Kennington (170-179),
#84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (180-295), #19 Brad Graham (296-300)
// GOODYEAR BELTS & HOSES FASTEST LAP:
#02 Kerry Micks (18.921 seconds)
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.
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