Tuesday, June 7, 2005

CASCAR SUPER SERIES: Dilley St-Eustache report



Dilley sixth in Quebec with Dodge Power Water Charger

From Don Brooks

St-Eustache, QC – Jun 04 2005: Mark Dilley recorded the eighth fastest time during practice at the tight little 4/10-mile oval near Montreal, and improved that to seventh for his qualifying position during CASCAR’s second 2005 event - the Whelan 200.

Dilley kept his #9 Dodge Power Water Charger in the top 10 all day, avoiding all of the incidents that caused ten different caution periods. But he was severely hampered by what he felt was a problem with the new tire compound provided for this event, and was glad to salvage a sixth-place finish.

"I was real happy with the car today but those tires just wouldn’t perform the way they needed to" said Dilley from Barrie, ON. He went to the pits twice during the caution at lap 96 to have his team see what they could do, but things just didn’t get any better even with replacement tires. Crew Chief Giulio Montanari was also frustrated explaining that although one-third of the 96 laps on that first set of yellow tires were under caution, they were not even worn. Most everyone else had chosen to use the proven white-letter Goodyear tires.

"Even still, we had a good time with our Quebec friends from Leland Industries today. I wished we’d been able to do better but it was a good race and we stayed out of trouble, which here at the Autodrome is something you can never predict" said Dilley. "And it was great seeing four Dodges in the top ten- just too bad Whit wasn’t there with us this time."

Winner Kerry Micks had a mirror-full of Dodge Chargers with DJ Kennington just .388 seconds behind, while Ron Beauchamp Jr. scored his second podium in a row with a third place finish. Beauchamp continues to lead the points, with Dave Whitlock in 3rd just 23 markers behind, and Dilley sits 4th just another seven points back.

Interestingly, the Lapcevich brothers Jeff and Jim are not twins – but are currently tied together at 10th in points.

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