Eighth In Trois Rivieres For Dave Whitlock

Courtesy Linda Jones

Trois Rivieres, Monday August 7, 2006: Dave Whitlock driving the #39 NTN-Bower/Griddly Headz/Nitrex Metal Technologies Dodge Charger posted another top ten finish on a road course with an eighth at Trois Rivieres, while Don Thomson Jr. took the win. "This event is great," stated Whitlock. "The grandstands were full every time we were on the track and the fans are so enthusiastic.”

The two practice sessions on Friday had Whitlock scored in twelfth and then seventh so the car continued to improve. Saturday's qualifying session left the #39 driver a little disappointed as they were scored in eleventh and that is where they would line up on Sunday for the start of the Arctic Cat 100. The team worked into the evening hours Saturday making changes to the #39 Charger as they knew that forty two laps on this track was going to be a big challenge.

When the green flag dropped, Whitlock was able to miss the melee that took place between several drivers before the first turn and quickly settled into the seventh position. Top contenders, D.J. Kennington, Kerry Micks and Jeff Lapcevich were out early leaving the door open for others to move up. The top seven ran nose to tail for the first half of the race after which the first four checked out on the rest of the field. During the closing laps Whitlock experienced braking problems and was forced to lay back a little allowing the #3 of Jason Hathaway to take the seventh position. After that the #39 cruised to an eighth place finish. "The car started out real strong," stated Whitlock. "We were running with the leaders no problem but the last few laps we had to take it a little easy as the brakes started to go away. We were really gunning for a top five today but our three cars finished in the top twelve so that is a satisfying day."

Teammate Mark Dilley finished fifth with Pierre Bourque crossing the line in twelfth.

Don Thomson Jr. took the win that alluded him here five years ago when he led all but the final lap when his transmission broke giving the win to Peter Gibbons. Second was teammate to Thomson, #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick with #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. in the Mopar Dodge taking third.