CASCAR: TIGHT TRACK BITES BEAUCHAMP & TEAM MOPAR IN SEASON OPENER

Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the Mopar Parts team were among the quickest cars all weekend at the first CASCAR Super Series race at Barrie Speedway, however tight competition often results in contact, and in this case it caused the Mopar Dodge all kinds of trouble.

During practice and qualifying on Saturday the Mopar Dodge performed pretty much as expected. “We had the kind of car we expected” said Ron Beauchamp Jr. “Earlier in the month we were here and ran a few laps to see how the car handled and it was pretty much the same. When we have room to race, we’re fast”. Beauchamp and Team Mopar had no trouble posting quick laps and were among the top runners during the 50 lap qualifying races. Beauchamp would start the 250 lap main event in seventh.

After a one day delay due to weather, the Mopar Dodge took the green flag on Monday afternoon and once again had the speed and handling necessary to have a successful day. “Things were good for the first half of the race” said the driver. “Our lap times were consistent and we just wanted to have something for the end of the race”.

Following routine scheduled service for tires and fuel Beauchamp was back on track but in heavy traffic. “The car was just as we expected it to be, however there was some pretty aggressive driving going on. We wound up getting bumped and pushed into the back of another car and that pushed the hood up making it difficult to see. I was managing okay, but CASCAR made the call that we had to come in and that took away any chance of a top finish”.

The Mopar Dodge pit crew removed the hood to allow better visibility and Beauchamp was back on track to try and make up as many positions and collect as many championship points as possible. Beauchamp would wind up 13th at the end of day.

“It’s unfortunate how things worked out, and we’ve got plenty of work to do on the car now” said Beauchamp. “But we’re headed to St Eustache for the next race and we’ve won at that track before so we’re pretty motivated”.

The CASCAR Super Series is the only National Stock Car Racing series with events scheduled this year at great oval tracks including Kawartha Speedway and & Cayuga Speedway along with road courses and temporary street circuits like the Grand Prix of Edmonton & Trois Rivieres. You can keep up with the latest news on the CASCAR Super Series and check out the complete 2006 racing schedule by logging onto the website at www.cascar.ca. And be sure to watch the CASCAR Super Series races on Rogers Sportsnet all year long.

Prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment