HATHAWAY RACES TO TOP 5 FINISH IN HOT HEAD HENRY 200

Courtesy Jamie Hakonson

September 4, 2006-Nelles Corners, Ontario- After persistent rain washed out the Saturday schedule for the Labour Day Classic Weekend at Cayuga Speedway Park, Team 3 Red/EHR returned to the track early Sunday morning for the Hot Head Henry 200.

Dark clouds hung low on Sunday morning as Team 3 Red/EHR practiced their #3 Snap on Tools Dodge. The car was in the top 10 during practice and Crew Chief Duane Swinkels and crew made a few minor changes moving through practice in preparation for the 50 lap qualifier and 200 lap feature event.

The 50 lap qualifier later Sunday afternoon would set the starting field for the Hot Head Henry 200. Hathaway started 6th in the 50 lap dash. As the race moved to the half way point the track conditions changed and Hathaway's car began tightening up. Hathaway kept digging and put on a great battle with the #19 car for position claiming the 7th place finishing spot.

Hathaway started inside row 7 on the starting grid for the 200 lap feature event- Hot Head Henry 200. Although it took awhile to get the race underway as the first 20 laps were under caution, Hathaway moved inside the #11 and #43 car to solidify 11th place. The battle that started in the 50 lap qualifier resumed between Hathaway and #19 car as Hathaway reeled him in. By lap 54, spotter Mike Hathaway made a small change to the line Hathaway was driving and used a lap car to get the advantage on #19 to move up the running order. Hathaway moved into 6th place on a caution after a round of pit stops jostled the running order.

At the half way point,. #3 Snap on Tools Dodge was working the #22 for 5th, while #60 was knocking on the door behind him to join in! Caution flew on lap 101 and Hathaway brought his car in to the attention of his crew for tires, a chassis adjustment and fuel. The crew did a great job in the pits and Hathaway returned to the track in 12th. On the restart Hathaway did an excellent job and found his way through lap traffic along the back stretch and move up to 8th!

On lap 166, Hathaway's persistent charge toward the front of the pack paid off when he passed the points leader and very quick car of the #84 in corner 1 & 2 of the 5/8-mile oval after a 30 lap back and forth battle. The last re-start of the 200 lap event came on lap 179 and Hathaway set his sights on the #1 in 5th spot. A last lap incident at the front of the pack opened the door for Hathaway to charge forward grabbing the Team's first top 5 of the year.

Hathaway was pumped up with he climbed out of his car in post race inspection. "We had a great night tonight. We battled hard there with Brad (Graham) and worked our way up. The crew did a great job in the pits and Duane made some great calls on the changes on the car. My spotter Mike was great, helping me to get through traffic and helped me to make the right moves to get us here!"

Team 3 Red/EHR will take their 13th place driver points standings and Rookie of the Year lead to the tight 4/10 mile asphalt oval- Autodrome St. Eustache, next Saturday night September 9th, 2006 for their rain out make up date from early June.