Buck Just Misses Podium In Trois Rivieres

Courtesy Linda Jones

Trois Rivieres, PQ, Monday August 7, 2006: Robin Buck driving the #88 Jacombs Racing/Lou's BBQ/CPS Flooring Taurus in the Arctic Cat 100 at Trois Rivieres on Sunday, posted a fourth place finish. This was CASCAR's first return to the Trois Rivieres event since 2001 and Don Thomson Jr. was able to close the deal this time. In the previous event here Thomson led all laps but the final one as his transmission broke and Peter Gibbons took the win.

Friday was practice day for the twenty five teams in attendance. During first practice Buck experienced transmission troubles but still posted the fifth quickest time. Again during the second practice they had further transmission woes but the #88 Taurus remained fifth quickest. The team worked late in the day repairing the problem and it was evident they had done a great job for Saturday's qualifying. Buck immediately set the time to beat in qualifying and he stayed on top for the first half of the session. With Kerry Micks, Don Thomson and J.R. Fitzpatrick posting quicker times late, Buck headed back onto the track but the checkered flag waved ending the session. "We had a great qualifying run early so I just waited in the pits to see how it all played out," said Buck. "When those guys went quicker, I headed back out but unfortunately we didn't have enough time left to get a better lap - we should have gone out a lap or two earlier. But fourth isn't bad," he added.

Sunday's Arctic Cat 100 saw some action early as the #75 of Kenny Habul attempted to pass several cars before the first turn. When the dust settled D.J. Kennington was out of the race and Jeff Lapcevich went from the front to the back of the field. Habul spent time on pit road for his actions but two front runners were out of the race. Next it was pole sitter Kerry Micks experiencing engine problems coming onto pit road where his car ended up parked for the day as well. Buck quickly settled into third where he ran for the first half of the race until the #60 of Beauchamp passed Buck for the third spot. The #88 Taurus driver laid back for the next several laps saving his tires and brakes for a run at the end. An attempt to pass Beauchamp for the 3rd spot again on the second last lap was unsuccessful and Buck brought the Lou's BBQ/CPS Flooring Taurus across the finish line in fourth. "I am so glad for this team to get a good finish," stated Buck. "They have worked so hard and not seen the results they should have. I was saving the car until the end and tried to get by Ron for third but couldn't quite get the pass done," he added. "A late caution could have helped us by closing up the pack a bit but a fourth is great for our team."

"We knew this team was capable of better finishes than we have had this year," stated owner Jacombs. "Robin has run really well and the oval car has had some good runs but we just haven't been able to close the deal so this one feels good today."