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Cayuga post-race notebook

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by Sirius Satellite Radio POST-RACE NOTEBOOK -- CAYUGA DODGE DEALERS 200, MAY 26 * A FIRST, BUT NOT REALLY: Don Thomson, Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) became the first driver to visit victory lane ...

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by Sirius Satellite Radio

POST-RACE NOTEBOOK -- CAYUGA
DODGE DEALERS 200, MAY 26

* A FIRST, BUT NOT REALLY: Don Thomson, Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) became the first driver to visit victory lane in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series with his win at Cayuga Speedway Park, but he needed little direction on what to do. Thomson is a five-time CASCAR Super Series champion. He won the five titles consecutively from 2001 to 2005.

* BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY: Chevrolet picked up the first manufacturer's win courtesy of Thomson, but Dodge led the way in the Dodge Dealers 200. Five Dodges placed in the top 10 led by Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Wild Wing Dodge Avenger) in second place. In addition to Thomson, Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Master Craft Chevrolet) finished in the third. Rounding out the top 10 were the Fords of Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide) and Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging) along with the Pontiac of Kent Nuhn (No. 09 The Fuel Genie/Nuhn's Auto Recyclers). All told, 12 Dodges, eight Chevys, two Fords and one Pontiac were in the field.

* FIRST TO ...: D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castol Dodge) was on top of the world after winning the first Bud Pole Award in the Canadian Tire Series, but a broken rear trailing arm after the first lap ended all hope earning the night's big prize and eventually led to a finish at the tail of the field. To add insult to injury, Kennington passed on an opportunity to race in the NASCAR Busch Series event at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

* CROSS-POLLINATION: The Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats have entered into a partnership with Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/Ticats Dodge). "Dave's car will be taking the Ticats brand coast-to-coast," Hamilton President Scott Mitchell said. "We're confident that the NASCAR Canadian Tire series is going to be an overwhelming success and we're very excited that the Ticats will be a part of it."

* MOBIL 1 OIL "COMMAND PERFORMANCE OF THE RACE" AWARD: In addition to picking up the first win in the Canadian Tire Series and all that goes with it, Thomson also collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 as a reward for his effort.

* TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RULES: It didn't take long for Canadian Tires Series drivers to adapt to NASCAR's series-mandated double file restarts with all lead lap cars at the front of the field. The Dodge Dealers 200 produced eight different leaders with the lead changing hands 16 times during the event. Thomson (78) and Dilley (59) led the most laps.

* A NEW FORCE: Ron Van Es (No. 11 Star Van Systems Chevrolet) showed signs of what might be this season. A new motor program with Peter Gibbons along with a veteran team including crew chief Alex Nagy has the team brimming with confidence. Van Es led just 10 laps, but was among the leaders before sustaining damage to his car in a lap 98 incident.

* POWER RANGER: It was not his first stock car race, but it was the first since deciding to make the full-time switch to NASCAR. Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford Fusion) finished fourth and fared well in the rough and tumble world of stock car racing with his car sporting a few doughnuts by race's end. Ranger finished 10th in points a season ago in the Champ Car World Series.

* IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: For anyone unable to be on hand last Saturday night at Cayuga to witness this historic race, TSN will air a replay of the race on Saturday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

-credit: nascar

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