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| joe hamilton/inside track |
August 8, 2011. Sun Peaks, British Columbia racer Jason White and the #21 A & W Dodge team battled the elements and 32 other racers on a soggy afternoon for round number eight of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres. White ran a brilliant race in the rain and claimed a sixth place finish, his fourth top ten finish of the season.
Practice and qualifying took place under sunny and perfect conditions and White improved his performance in the #21 A & W Dodge throughout the Saturday sessions. “We thought about making some changes to the gear in the car, but instead I adjusted my driving style a little bit” said White. “It really paid off for us” he added.
The skies opened Sunday afternoon shortly before the feature and NASCAR officials declared a wet race which meant for the first time ever teams would start a race in the rain. “My plan was just to take it very easy and carefully” explained White. “I knew that if we could avoid the trouble that would occur and make it to the finish we would have a good result” he added.
White began the race in fourteenth position and the slipping and sliding on the track allowed him the opportunity to quickly move the #21 A & W Dodge into the top ten. “I really learned a lot about road racing today. I learned to get off the brakes early, let the car roll through the corners and it was really working for me” said the driver. “It’s easy to get pretty anxious and excited about gaining a position so I made sure that I could make a pass before attempting it” said White.
When the final caution period set up a green, white, checkered flag finish White knew it would be a fight to the finish. “It was everybody’s last chance to gain position so I had to be smart about those final two laps” said the driver.
White smartly avoid any last minute trouble and claimed his second sixth place finish of the season, both on road courses. “I was a little surprised we had a lot of green flag racing today” said White. “But I think it shows how good these teams are to be able to race in these very difficult conditions and not have a lot of torn up race cars. I’m really happy with how well the entire #21 A & W Dodge team performed this weekend, I can’t wait to get back in action at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve” said White.
With his fourth top ten result of the season Jason White sits eighth in the overall championship standings.