Kawartha - series finale report, champion crowned

Dilley and Fitzpatrick are the big winners in the Dodge Charger 250 CASCAR Super Series finale at Kawartha Speedway

PETERBOROUGH, ON -- The 2006 CASCAR Super Series season came to a close on Sunday afternoon at Kawartha Speedway. Dodge-sponsored Charger driver Mark Dilley won the 'Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Charger 250 presented by MOPAR' at the 3/8-mile, Peterborough-area stock car oval. It was the first feature win of the season for the Barrie, ON resident, making him the ninth different winner in 11 races.

"Everything hit on eight cylinders today," said Dilley, after the race. "We pitted early and found that the right-rear tire was blistering a bit. It was a great call by my crew to bring me in at that point to make the change and fix our loose condition. After that, the car would really 'come on' about 15 laps into the runs. It's a great honour to win for Dodge today in this great race."

Sharing the spotlight with Dilley was 18-year-old J.R. Fitzpatrick, who earned his first CASCAR Super Series points championship by completing the 11-event series 45 points ahead of Don Thomson Jr.; his Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammate. Thomson (Home Hardware Chevy) won five consecutive CASCAR National championships between 2001 and 2005.

"The goal today was to win the title, and stay out of trouble," said the young champion. "We're going to take this, enjoy it, and start thinking about winning another one. At the start of the season, I set a goal for a top-five points finish. We exceeded everything we wanted to achieve, by far."

Fitzpatrick, driver of the Milwaukee Tools Chevy, avoided trouble for most of the 250-lap race but was involved in a mild scrape in the late-going, triggered by two other drivers. The Ayr, ON youngster soldiered home for a ninth-place result, which was more than sufficient to secure the prestigious points championship.

Finishing second to Dilley in Sunday's Dodge Charger 250 was Don Thomson Jr., who overcame a blown motor during qualifying which relegated him to the tail-end of the 25-car field for the start of the feature race. The Hamilton, ON resident earned the 'Fast Eddie Hard Charger' award by advancing 23 positions.

Castrol Dodge Charger driver DJ Kennington claimed the final podium spot at Kawartha. The St. Thomas, ON racer started on the pole and led the first 100 laps, but used up his tires after pitting early, and could do little to challenge Dilley and Thomson at the end. Fourth-place went to Scott Steckly (ERB Dodge), ahead of Kawartha track promoter Derek Lynch (Canadian Shield Dodge).

Jason Hathaway (Snap On Dodge) wrapped up his inaugural Super Series season with a sixth-place showing. The Appin, ON racer earned the Rookie of the Year Award driving for the #3 Ed Hakonson Racing (EHR) team. Things came together for Hathaway late in the season with several strong runs. His final three races produced three top-six finishes, en route to 11th overall in the Super Series points. Dilley's victory in the Dodge Charger 250 secured a second-consecutive CASCAR Manufacturers' Trophy for DaimlerChrysler / Dodge / MOPAR.

UNOFFICIAL POINTS: CASCAR SUPER SERIES (Top 15 // After 12 events, as of September 17, 2006): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1868 pts.); 2. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1823); 3. #02 Kerry Micks (1817); 4. #39 Dave Whitlock (1800); 5. #9 Mark Dilley (1799), 6. #22 Scott Steckly (1777); 7. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (1750); 8. #1 Peter Gibbons (1717); 8. #17 DJ Kennington (1717); 10. #19 Brad Graham (1677); 11. #3 Jason Hathaway ® (1647); 12. #10 Doug Brown (1646); 13. #25 Jim Lapcevich (1638); 14. #11 Ron Van Es (1362); 15. #Jeff Lapcevich (1351)

-credit: www.cascar.ca