AWESOME RUN FOR TEAM 3 RED CUT SHORT AT WHELEN 200
Courtesy Jamie Hakonson, Team 3 Red
June 4, 2004- St. Eustache, Quebec - Sun and humidity meet Team 3 Red as they traveled to the 4/10th-mile asphalt oval of Autodrome St. Eustache Saturday afternoon for the Whelan 200.
CASCAR has raced many times around this quick 4/10th of a mile track, but it was the first time that Team 3 Red driver Stu. Robinson Jr in his #3 Snap-on Tools Dodge, had seen the track after the CASCAR Super Series took a one year sabbatical from the track in 2004.
After a tough weekend at Delaware two weeks ago the Team was pumped and ready to take the off-camber race track on for the Whelen 200. The car practiced very well and with only mere 10ths of a second separating the qualifying spots, Stu qualified the car in the 16th position.
With 25 cars in the starting field, there was plenty of action on the track and cautions came early and often starting at the end of lap one. In just this first lap Stu had moved up to 14th. As the race continued, on this tough one groove track spotter, Mike Wagner worked with Stu and kept him hitting his marks on the track. At the half way point Stu had avoided numerous spins, was 12th 1n the order and was staring to truly get the hang of the race track.
On lap 105 Robinson was spun by another car. He recovered quickly without a caution flag and remained on the lead lap. Crew Chief Duane Swinkels brought the car in changed the left rear tire, checked the car for damage and sent the #3 Snap-on Tools Dodge machine back out into competition. Some 30 laps later running in the 13th spot, Stu was spun on the entrance to turn 3. The car was brought in again and the crushed airbox was repaired. Stu went back on to the track, but later retired the car for the night on lap 158 posting a 21st place finish.
Stu was proud of his team. "We had a tough weekend at Delaware, but we knew we were stronger than we what that weekend showed. The Team worked together and this was a lot of fun tonight. The crew worked well and the car was awesome. We were headed toward the front and we in line for a top 10 finish tonight. We are disappointed that we had to retire the car early, but I learned a lot and I am looking forward to the next race!"
The next stop on the 2005 CASCAR Super Series schedule will take Team 3 Red to their first of two road course events. They will be at the 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course of Mosport International Raceway, near Bowmanville, Ontario for the Father's Day Weekend June 18 & 19.
Team 3 Red is proud to be partnered with Snap-on Tools, Arctic Car ATV's, Super 8 Motels, Advantex Freight Forwarders, Fast Eddie Racewear and Choko Motorsports.
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