Full Throttle

Racing at Barrie Speedway is about speed, patience, luck and survival. The .333-mile track is prototypical short track racing. Scott Steckly had all of those characteristics in his arsenal in winning the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series A&W 300 Saturday night.

The game was on with 50 laps to go in the event. Steckly, racing out of Milverton, Ont., and polesitter Don Thomson Jr. had survived everything that came their way. Trailing Thomson, Steckly gently nudged the leader to let him know that he wanted to get by.

“I didn’t want to get real rough with him. I respect (Thomson) a whole bunch, but I did want him to know that I was there,” said the victor.

Steckly has won three of the last four Canadian Tire Series events dating back to last year’s season finale. His three victories came on oval tracks. The only event which he did not win was two weeks ago on the road course of Mosport International Raceway – he finished fourth in the event.

“We have a lot of momentum right now. The guys are giving me a great car every time out. It did everything I asked it to and more,” said Steckly. “If it hadn’t rained at Mosport, we could have won that one, too.”

Thomson was appreciative of the break afforded by Steckly during the final pass.

“He could have turned us and he didn’t. I thought that was a very classy move,” stated Thomson.

After setting a track record during time trials, Thomson felt confident about the set-up in the car and the chance to win.

“We thought we had it nailed, but five laps into the race it was very tight,” Thomson said. “We did all sorts of stuff to loosen it up, but it never really did.”

Two-time Barrie winner D.J. Kennington finished third followed by Derek Lynch and Brad Graham in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Andrew Ranger, Alex Tagliani, Mark Dilley, Doug Brown and Kerry Micks rounded out the top 10.

Unofficially, in the championship point standings, Steckly increased his lead 63 points. Thomson now holds second place. Defending series champion Ranger currently sits in sixth place, 120 points behind Steckly.

The Canadian Tire Series is right back on the track next week for the Kodak 250 at Autodrome St. Eustache in Quebec.

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO-A&W 300 UNOFFICIAL Results
Saturday
At Barrie Speedway
Barrie, Ontario
Lap length: 0.333 miles

(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 300 laps, 55.457 mph, $7,891.
2. (1) Don Thomson, Jr., Ayr, Ont., Chevrolet, 300, $3,688.
3. (4) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 300, $4,543.
4. (10) Derek Lynch, Warkworth, Ont., Dodge, 300, $3,898.
5. (8) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ont., Dodge, 300, $3,025.
6. (3) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Ford, 300, $2,415.
7. (13) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Ford, 299, $3,195.
8. (7) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 299, $2,336.
9. (19) Doug Brown, Brantford, Ont., Dodge, 299, $3,020.
10. (6) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 297, $1,866.
11. (17) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ont., Chevrolet, 296, $1,646.
12. (12) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ont., Dodge, 291, $1,537.
13. (16) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 278, $1,427.
14. (11) John Gaunt, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 270, $1,317.
15. (14) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 268, $1,229.
16. (21) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Chevrolet, 257, rear end, $1,208.
17. (15) Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont., Chevrolet, 222, $1,142.
18. (20) Jim Lapcevich, Hamilton, Ont., Chevrolet, 75, accident, $1,098.
19. (18) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 65, ignition, $1,055.
20. (9) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Chevrolet, 63, accident, $1,010.
21. (5) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ont., Dodge, 63, engine, $976.

Series Standings: 1. S.Steckly, 540; 2. D.Thomson,Jr., 477; 3. D.Lynch, 445; 4. D.Kennington, 442; 5. J.Fitzpatrick, 430; 6. P.Gibbons, 420; 7. A.Ranger, 420; 8. K.Micks, 419; 9. B.Graham, 412; 10. A.Tagliani, 404.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Mosport International Raceway, Alex Tagliani, Don Thomson, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Auto racing, Andrew Ranger, Ron Beauchamp