June 22, 2011. Calgary, Alberta’s Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team will begin their 2011 racing season in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this weekend at Mosport international Raceway near Bowmanville, Ontario. This year Whissell adds two oval track events to his schedule and once again this season will be making a significant charitable contribution with his prize winnings, the recipient will be the Children’s Miracle Network.
This season Whissell has formed a new association with Jeff Lapcevich and Fastline Motorsports who will prepare the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford for the road course events. “Jeff is a premiere road racer and we’re fortunate to have Don Barnhardt from his group working as Crew Chief” said Whissell. “They’ve had the car for a few months and have been updating it to get ready for the season and I’m excited to get on track this weekend” he added.
The return to Mosport this weekend for the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford driver is a place where Whissell feels he is due for a change in his racing luck. “We’ve always seemed to have some trouble for some reason” explained the driver. “In 2008, my series debut we crashed out. The next year we ran well but had pit stop troubles, and then last year it was a crash a burn with the brake ducts catching fire. With the changes we made in the off season I think we’ve put all that behind us and our goal is a top-ten finish this weekend” he stated.
Over the winter the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team took delivery of their first oval track car and Whissell is excited to be competing at both NASCAR Canadian Tire series races in Western Canada. “I don’t have a lot of oval track experience” said Whissell. “But we’ve had Bill Burns preparing the car for us to race in Vernon and Saskatoon and I’m really excited about the challenge” he added.
Once again this season Whissell has chosen a charity to support through his racing efforts in the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford. This season it will be the Children’s Miracle Network. “One of our sponsorship partners, SMS has partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network as their corporate charity and I’m pleased to join them in supporting this great cause” he stated.
Practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event at Mosport Raceway will take place this Saturday June 25th. The green flag waves for the 200km main event Sunday afternoon, June 26th at 1:30PM.
This season Jarrad Whissell will participate in four NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road course events at Mosport Raceway, the Toronto Indy, Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres and the Montreal Nationwide weekend. In addition he will also take part in the two western Canada stops at Motoplex Speedway near Vernon, BC & Auto Clearing Speedway in Saskatoon, SK. Follow the progress of the team and help support the Children’s Miracle Network through the team website www.jarradwhissell.com You can watch all of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races again this year on TSN.