TEAM 3 RED GRABS TOP TEN FINISH

By: Jamie HakonsonTeam 3 Red

July 3, 2005- Barrie, Ontario- Team 3 Red worked their way through a trying weekend earning a well deserved 10th place finish at the Dodge Charger 300 this weekend at Barrie Speedway.

As the Teams took to the newly configured racetrack on Sunday morning, it was quite apparent that it was a one groove race track and passing would be tough. The Team qualified in the 15th starting spot in the tight field and the name of the game for the grueling 300 laps was to stay out of trouble and be there at the end of the race.

As the green flag fell, drivers jostled around to find their spots on the track and Team 3 Red driver Stu Robinson Jr. picked up 2 spots on his first lap. When the first caution flag flew on lap 36 the #3 Snap-on Tools machine was running 11th. The team took a temporary set back when they had to come into the pits for a stop and go penalty, but quickly set back into their rhythm working their way back up to 19th. As the laps clicked away, lapped traffic became an issue and Robinson Jr. avoided multiple accidents, keeping the car straight and in contention.

The first of two competition yellow flags came out on lap 105 in which all of the cars were brought to pit road while track officials swept the track. By the half way point of the long 300 lap race, Robinson Jr. was running 15th. Fighting a tight race car and a track that was coming apart in the corners, the Team worked together and kept their pace going. The best battle of the day came on lap 273 as Robinson Jr. made the pass to take the Team to their 10th place finish on the inside of the #10 along the back stretch and into corner 3.

"This is one interesting race track!" exclaimed Stu Robinson Jr. as he climbed out of his #3 Snap-on Tools Dodge. "If you were on the outside at this track you were freight-trained for sure. It was tough, but the Team worked hard and my spotter Mike Wagner helped me all day long! 10th place feels great and we will take it!

Crew Chief Duane Swinkels was proud of the Team "Our Team focused on the big picture today and that was to keep the car in one piece and be there in the end. 10th place feels great and this team worked really hard for it! Stu drove an awesome race!"

The Team is right back into action this week as they take their road course car out for its second and final outing of the year at the Molson Indy Toronto this weekend. The Team will qualify their car on Saturday evening on the 1.72 mile asphalt city street road course and run their main event on Sunday at 4:25 pm.

You can catch Team 3 Red in the BERMS-R-US presents the Clarington 200 from the road course at Mosport International Speedway on Wednesday July 6 at 2pm EST on
SPORTSNET.

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.

Jamie HakonsonTeam 3 Red
Tel: 905-642-1010 ext 324
Fax: 905-642-1011
E-mail: jamie@team3red.com