Antigonish: Anthony Simone race report

ANOTHER TOP-TEN FOR SIMONE IN Rx100 CHEVY AT RIVERSIDE

September 18, 2010. Anthony Simone and the #95 Rx100 team were pleased to have a solid finish at the most recent event of the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season but were expecting more for round number twelve at Riverside Speedway near Antigonish, Nova Scotia on Saturday. With another top-ten finish the team accomplished their goal.

During the one hour practice session the team worked on set up for the race and believed they had the car dialed in. They drew the unfortunate number one spot for qualifying runs but Simone still managed to claim the sixth best qualifying time and the #95 Rx 100 Chevrolet would line up for the 300 lap feature event on the outside of row three.

When the green flag dropped for the start of the race Simone immediately looked to move the #95 Rx100 Car forward. However the car's performance wasn't quite to Simone's liking and he struggled in the early stages of the race. Following a pit stop for adjustments the car improved.

Before the halfway mark of the race Simone had the #95 Rx100 car back up near the front running in the sixth spot. "The team did a great job in making this car better" said Simone. "We were having trouble maintaining pace on the long runs but we were definitely better this week" he added.

After the halfway mark of the race Simone continued to push the #95 Rx 100 car forward and climbed into the top-five. "We ran in the top-five for about fifty laps and had no trouble running with the leaders" said the driver. "In fact there were a couple of times when I think we were quicker but got held up a bit in traffic" he added.

As the race moved to the late stages a long green flag run again worked against the Rx 100 team and he began to fall in the field. With the race slowed by a late caution period Simone's crew called him to pit road for handling adjustments. "The strategy worked and the car's performance was better for the final green flag run to the finish. Simone would take the checkered flag scoring a seventh place finish.

The second straight top-ten finish provided the Rx 100 Chevrolet driver with a boost of confidence heading into the final race of the season. "Coming out of Barrie we had an okay result, but this race was a real boost for my confidence and the team's confidence" said Simone. "Everybody has worked so hard to make this car better from week to week. We've had new geometry changes from week to week and we're definitely improving" he added.

This is the seventh time this season the #95 Rx100 team has finished inside the top-ten and Simone sits ninth in the overall championship point standings.

The #95 Rx100 Chevrolet team with Anthony Simone will next compete on Saturday September 25th at Kawartha Speedway near Peterborough, Ontario in the final event of the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire series season. All races are broadcast on TSN and you'll soon see a newly renovated team website.

-source: simone autosport