Submitted by Todd Lewis & TL Sports & Entertainment
Photo: Todd Lewis
June 5, 2011. (Toronto, ON) - Sun Peaks, British Columbia racer Jason White arrived at Circuit ICAR north of Montreal, Quebec for round number two of the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series expecting to rebound from a frustrating season opener last week. Jason White and the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger team did exactly that posting their first top-ten finish of the season.
White grew up racing on oval tracks and is still a relative newcomer to road racing. And after getting his first look at the challenging 2.11 mile road course laid out on the runways of Mirabel Airport north of Montreal White knew it would be a real challenge for the #21 A & W Dodge team. “It’s a very tight course and really technical” explained White. “Our team wanted to set the car up to run very consistently throughout the race” he added.
Jason would qualify the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger seventeenth for the thirty lap race. “I really wanted to get under a time of one minute forty for a lap and we just missed” said White. “But I was able to run those laps times all through practice and qualifying which set us up nicely for the race” he stated.
With several road course ringers in the field White knew he’d have to be patient and look carefully for his opportunities. “Through the first part of the race the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger was really consistent and we picked up a couple of spots and got up close to tenth and I thought we were in pretty good shape” said White.
As a late caution flag waved setting up a green, white, checker dash for the finish White knew this could be an opportunity for him to gain positions. “I knew there was going to be all kinds of carnage on those final two laps” stated White. “I just kept my wits about me and stuck it in there when I had the chance and made a couple of passes in those last two laps” he added.
When the race concluded White had secured a tenth place finish in the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger. “It’s been a long time coming” he said afterwards. “My Crew Chief Derek Lynch and the whole team gave me a car I could drive and not have it drive me. I’ve got to thank all the guys for their hard work this weekend. This whole team is super excited to get back into our oval car and get to Delaware next weekend” he added.
The next event for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be this coming Saturday June 11th at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario. The race from Circuit ICAR can be seen on TSN Sunday June 12th at 11AM Eastern.