September 18, 2011. Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Noel Dowler and the #5 EMCO Dodge team continue to show great improvement during their rookie season in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. During round number eleven at Riverside International Speedway Dowler worked his way forward and ran inside the top ten for a good portion of the race. While he would slip back to eleventh in the closing laps Dowler once again gained valuable experience.
The #5 EMCO Dodge team worked to get the car handling to Dowler’s liking during the one hour afternoon practice schedule with mixed results. “The car just wasn’t where we needed it to be at the start” said Dowler.
Despite the less than ideal handling car Dowler managed to qualify the #5 EMCO Dodge on the outside of row seven. The 300 lap race would run under green flag conditions for better than 100 laps before the first caution period. “I was able to get into a rhythm during the long run” said Dowler. “But the car still didn’t handle very well” he added.
Throughout the race Dowler would show a determined effort with his #5 EMCO Dodge even though the handling left something to be desired. “I was just doing my thing” said Dowler. “Staying out of trouble and trying to do what I could with the car” said the driver.
Following a pit stop for adjustments Dowler continued his drive and began to improve his position on the track climbing into the top ten. “It wasn’t my specific goal but I’m happy we got into the top ten for sure” said Dowler.
Another long green flag run to the end of the race would also hamper the #5 EMCO Dodge team. Dowler would take the checkered flag eleventh. “Our car just wasn’t happy during those long runs” explained Dowler. “It would have been nice to finish in the top ten but we came up a bit short. Everybody on the team worked really hard and I’m looking forward to making more progress next week at Kawartha” he stated.