The CASCAR Super Series was headed to St. Eustache, Quebec for the second race of the season last weekend. Coming off a disappointing 22nd place finish at Delaware, Scott was looking to get back on track at St. Eustache. This was the first CASCAR race at the Autodrome St. Eustache in two years.
On Friday June 3, the 22 Racing Grand Prix and International 9900ix were on display at a customer appreciation open house at Metro St. Laurent, who was the sponsoring International dealer for the Whelen 200.
During time trials Steckly, driving the Erb Group/ Metro St. Laurent Pontiac Grand Prix posted the 13th fast time. However, following tech inspection his car was deemed to be too low and as a result he was sent to the back of the 25-car field.
The penalty to Steckly did not daunt him as he began to work his way through the field in short order. By the first caution he was up to 17th place. Pit stops came shortly after, on lap 65 when the Erb Group/ Metro St. Laurent team came in to change 2 right side tires. The 22 car remained in the 17th position, but once the green flag dropped Steckly resumed his charge toward the front.
After another caution on lap 83 because of the spin by #71 Bryan Cathcart, Scott had the car up into 12th place. Throughout the race, Scott was bumping and grinding his way through the field in an effort to make it into the top 10. Finally, by lap 114 Scott worked his way into ninth place. That would be as high as the #22 car would get one this night, as 10 laps later Scott was caught up in a wreck after a spin by rookie driver #37 Tara MacLeod.
Following another MacLeod spin on lap 154. Crew chief Ken Gropp elected to pit and take a right rear tire and a round of wedge to loosen up the race car. The Erb Group Grand Prix restarted the race in 15th place and by the end had fought his way up to 11th.
The late stages of the race were not without excitement as Dave Whitlock in the #39 and Don Thomson Jr. in the #4 took turns beating their cars into each other for which Whitlock was given a black flag penalty for rough driving.
After the race Scott had this to say “St Eustache is the wrong track to start from the back of the field, Track position is just too important here. We just spent all night banging around with lapped cars while the leaders drove off. We’re going to work on our qualifying setup and work on getting some of them bonus point that go along with a top 5 starting position”.
Next up in the CASCAR Super Series is the Clarington 200 at Mosport Road Course on June 18 and 19, 2005. http://www.mosport.com/roadhome.htm
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