St-Eustache: Mark Dilley race notes

DILLEY FINISHES FIFTH IN NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES SEASON OPENER AT ST. EUSTACHE

St. Eustache, Sunday May 24, 2009: Mark Dilley driver of the No. 9 Dodge/Leland Dodge Avenger fought his way back from a flat tire and a one lap penalty to finish in fifth on Saturday night at Autodrome St. Eustache.

Tufoil 250 practice saw Dilley one spot off the top rung with the second quickest time. After the nineteen NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams on hand time trialed, Dilley lined up the No. 9 Dodge in row three on the inside in fifth.

The Tufoil 250 is event number one in the thirteen race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule with events from Coast to Coast broadcast on TSN.

At the drop of the green flag Dilley started his move to the front and by lap 25 the No. 9 Dodge/Leland Dodge Avenger was up to second. A short time later Dilley came to pit road to the attention of his crew with a flat right front tire from contact on the track. Dilley later again brought his Dodge back to the pits for more tires and fuel and was assessed a one lap penalty for passing on the track before entering the pits. The team went to work then and got him in a position to earn the "lucky dog" or free pass. Before the 100 lap Mark Dilley was back on the lead lap and heading to the front again. Contact with another racer late in the event put Dilley back further in the field but a late race charge saw take a fifth place finish.

"I was really happy with our car all day -- it was hooked up," said Dilley after the race. "It was short track racing with lots of contact out there. We just tried to stay focused and got a fifth place finish for it."

Dilley teammate Dave Whitlock went to victory lane after a two year drought for wins with Kerry Micks, Ron Beauchamp Jr. and Scott Steckly rounding out the rest of the top five.

Event No. 2 on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule is Saturday June 6th at Delaware Speedway in London. After a two year absence from this great racing facility the teams are looking forward to returning to this fast ½ mile oval.

-credit: mdPR

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