Top 5 Slips Away From Hathaway at Grand Prix De Trois Rivieries

Courtesy Jamie Hakonson

August 6, 2006- Trois Rivieres, Quebec- Jason Hathaway and Team 3 Red/EHR's third race on the road course configuration of the CASCAR Super Series went very well this weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieries, Quebec.

This event marked the return of the CASCAR Super Series to the GP de Trois Rivieres in 5 years. The three day event got underway on Friday afternoon where the Team practiced in two practice sessions. Coming off of the road course at The Edmonton Grand Prix two weeks ago, Hathaway was feeling good about his changes on the Grand Prix road course.

"Now that I have Mosport Road and Edmonton under my belt, I feel a lot more comfortable on the road courses. It really helps with this race this weekend having just come off another road course."
Hathaway qualified his #3 Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger in the 13th spot amongst a tight field of 25 competitors. A mere second and a half separated the field form 1st place qualifying spot to the 15th qualifying spot.

The green flag flew on Sunday morning for the Arctic Cat 100. In-term Crew Chief Mike Vanderwal and the Team set their strategy at the beginning of the day...save the brakes and be there at the end of the 100 km long, 42 lap race. Road coursing is a game of braking, shifting and keeping your equipment together! It did not take long for the action to get started when #75 flew into corner 1 of the first lap passing Hathaway and collecting 3 of the competitors in front of him. A full course yellow was displayed and the race got back underway on lap 6. With some smart driving to avoid the collision, Hathaway advanced 5 positions, placing himself in 8th place.

After the wreck the field spaced out and Hathaway worked on getting into a rhythm thought the 10 turn course. He then set his sights on the #39 car in front of him for position. After working his way to within striking distance Hathaway passed #39 on lap 31 on the inside of corner 4 at the end of the high speed back straight of the 3.42 kilometer course, moving into 7th place. With 5 laps to go Hathaway had #9 lined up to make a move for 6th when he radioed into the crew that his racing machine was stuck in 4th gear, but would make it to the end. 6th spot slipped a way from the Team, but Hathaway had a 10 car length advantage over the 8th place car, bringing his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger home in 7th.

"This was great finish for us here today! This is really tight course and there are a couple of spots here that were pretty crazy. If we had not been caught in 4th gear, we would have been a top 5 car for sure this weekend. Each road course that we race in, the better I feel out there. I'm looking forward to the race at Montréal later this month! said Hathaway as he climbed out of his Dodge.

Team 3 Red/EHR will return to action on the ovals in their next event August 12 at Mosport Speedway, near Bowmanville, Ontario.