 |
| Photo: Gary Grant |
Racer Jason White and the #21 A & W Dodge team resumed action in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series this past weekend at Barrie Speedway for round number ten. White showed speed, poise and was en route to a fantastic finish when fortunes quickly changed.
In three previous visits to Barrie the #21 A & W Dodge team hasn’t achieved the desired results. During practice and then in qualifying White was confident their luck was changing. “As usual my Crew Chief Derek Lynch and his crew prepared the car really well and I felt really good heading into the race” said White.
Knowing 300 grueling laps lay ahead White knew patience and a solid race strategy would be key. “I was really fortunate to have Dan McHattie spotting for me today” said White. “He was stressing what to expect right from the start of practice and it was playing out exactly as he said it would” he added.
As expected on the tight one third mile oval there was plenty of action between drivers. “I was just being cautious in the first half of the race and saving the #21 A & W Dodge for the second half of the race” explained White.
Past the halfway point White had stopped for scheduled service and the focus on the end result began. “The car was really coming to us” said White. “I feel we had a car capable of a top five finish for sure and the race was coming to us exactly the way Dan explained earlier” he added.
A shocking twist of fate would occur on a restart just past lap 200. The #60 car would turn inexplicably in front of the #21 A & W Dodge that was on the inside sending White on a wild sliding across the track and crashing hard into the outside wall. “Apparently the #60 broke an axle and the car the just turned in front of me” said a disappointed White. “It’s so frustrating because everyone worked so hard and the race was playing out the way we expected and we were in line for a great finish” he added.
Despite the disappointing end to the night Jason White remains in eighth spot in the overall championship standings. “That was the hardest hit I’ve ever had” said White “but at least we didn’t take too bad a hit in the points”.