CASCAR: Brad Graham wins the Castrol 300 CASCAR Super Series race at Sun Valley Speedway

For more information contact CASCAR’s Toronto office at (416) 531-4714
For immediate release / July 16, 2006

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’s Dodge 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 Monte Carlo 300
4 5 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON) ERB / AW Millwrights Dodge Charger 300
5 2 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON) Cdn. Detailing Services Ford Taurus 300
6 4 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) Canadian Tire / Monroe Brakes Chevrolet 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 Hortons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 300
9 1 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo 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 Monte Carlo 300
12 18 11 Ron VanEs (Smithville, ON) Star Van Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 300
13 8 3 Jason Hathaway (Appin, ON) ® Snap-On Tools / Arctic Cat / Super 8 Dodge Charger 299
14 23 71 Daryl Harr (St. Albert, AB) Westworld Computers / GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo 299
15 24 2 Carl Harr (St. Albert, AB) Zimmer / Wheaton GMC / GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 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 Monte Carlo 297
18 13 6 Todd Nichol (St. Albert, AB) Pennzoil / Rocky Mountain Sales / SEM Chevrolet Monte Carlo 296
19 16 30 Derek Polack (Stony Plain, AB) Bulldog Protective Coatings Chevrolet Monte Carlo 295
20 26 76 Dale Biesick (Lake Country, BC) Lake Country Mobile Services Dodge Charger 294
21 27 26 Shaun Polack (Stony Plain, AB) Thompson Brothers Chevrolet Monte Carlo 292
22 34 09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON) ® Nuhn Motorsports Pontiac Grand 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 Monte Carlo 276
25 32 24 Scott Dennis (Edmonton, AB) ® Antrim Construction Fluid Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo 274
26 22 21 Jason White (Sun Peaks, BC) Zimmer / Wheaton GMC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 269
27 31 86 Shawn Press (Calgary, AB) Crestview Homes / All Weather Windows 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 Ford Taurus 261
30 10 35 Kevin Dowler (Sherwood Park, AB) EMCO Ford Taurus 258
31 37 27 Mark Derks (Calgary, AB) The Derks Corporation Chevrolet Monte Carlo 218
32 35 42 Lyle Paulson (Enderby, BC) ® New Era Promotion Pontiac Grand 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 Chevrolet Monte Carlo DNS
36 33 31 Sean Maltman (Vernon, BC) Close Call / Dunbar Automotive Chevrolet 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)

Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // Contact: Greg MacPherson (416) 561-2320 (cell).
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