BRANTFORD, ON - Doug Brown and Haldex-sponsored Dodge slipped two spots in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points’ standings as the result of his 17th-place finish at Barrie on Canada Day and that doesn’t sit well with the fierce stock car racing competitor.
“That’s the worst start to a season ever”, the puzzled racing veteran stated with a sigh of disbelief in reviewing the results todate.
In each of his three starts this season, bad luck and mechanical gremlins have haunted his performances in runs that should have resulted in top-ten or better finishes.
On opening day at Cayuga Speedway on May 26th, a late race accident and an ensuing electrical malfunction foiled a top-five run and resulted in a 14th-place finish. Two weeks later at the rolling 2.5-mile Mosport road course an intermittent fuel starvation problem robbed him of a top-ten run and he had to settle for another 14th-place result.
And in his last outing at Barrie, the crew worked hard on the Haldex Dodge to correct some early handling problems that saw him struggle in the early going then work his way up sixth place until a flat tire took him out of contention in the closing laps.
Heading west this week to events at the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 in Vernon, BC and at the Grand Prix Edmonton, the generally composed competitor is determined to end his bad luck streak.
“We’ve got a lot of ground to make up and hopefully this two-week road trip will give us a chance to regroup and demonstrate we’re far better than the results todate imply,” Brown stated emphatically. “The road courses are always a challenge but we’ve had some strong runs in the two oval track events even though the results don’t show it. Vernon’s half-mile oval is a great track and we’re looking forward to showing some muscle there,” he added.
Brown also needs a solid run on the flat 1.973-mile Edmonton City Centre street course, the site of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series’ fifth race on July21st.
With nine races left in the 12-race schedule as they head west, the second-generation driver knows it will require a solid performance in each of those events to secure a top-ten spot in the standings – a position he targeted before the season began.
Only a handful of his generally well manned crew will be heading west but he isn’t overly concerned that will affect his chances for some solid runs.
“Some of our team members couldn’t afford to take two weeks away from their jobs or families so we’ll be working with the crews of other teams in a similar situation to complete this trek,” Brown revealed in discussing how they will fare manpower-wise in a sport that requires a strong team effort. In past trips of this magnitude, Brown and fellow series’ competitor DJ Kennington have pooled their team resources and that is the game plan for this year’s programs.
The Ontario-based teams in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series return home following the July 21st Edmonton event but they’ll be back on the road after a brief respite and heading East for a key event as part of the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race sponsored by NAPA at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 4th.
HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor role. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team.
Prepared by: Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports
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