SunValley: Don Thompson Jr race notes

HOME HARDWARE TEAM WINS AT SUN VALLEY

July 20, 2008. Don Thomson Jr. and the Home Hardware Chevrolet have shown their speed at every event so far on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) schedule. Saturday at Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC the team again showed their quick car claiming their fourth pole position of the season, along with their first victory of the year.

The day started beautifully for as once gain the Home Hardware Chevrolet was quick during practice and scored the quick time during qualifying with a lap time of 18>456 seconds equaling an average speed of 97.529 mph. "The car was quick all day" said Thomson afterwards all the guys worked really hard to get ready for this trip west".

As the green flag dropped for 300 laps of racing action Thomson would have little trouble maintaining top spot in the early going. In fact the Home Hardware Chevrolet was out in front for 127 of the first 128 laps of the race. However that is not to say it was smooth sailing. On lap 81 the #02 car slipped by Thomson but only for a lap. Contact between the two would result in the Home Hardware car moving back in front, and the other sliding into the wall. "I've got to apologize to Kerry Micks for that" said Thomson. "I'm not sure exactly what happened but we were battling and he kind of turned into me and you saw the results".

While Thomson would get back in front of the field his difficulties were just beginning. Possibly as a result of the contact Thomson felt a tire going down on the Home Hardware Chevrolet and would eventually spin out and go down a lap in the race. "The positive is we had a good car all day" said the driver. "After the hit the car wasn't the same, maybe that's why the tire went down. But once we got some new tires on the car, had a little bit of luck and got our lap back we were back in the hunt".

Through the second half of the race Thomson would glide the Home Hardware Chevrolet through the field using both the inside and outside line to pass. "There were a couple of cautions in the race that helped keep things bunched up following the last restart (due to a caution period) we made our move". Thomson would regain top spot with only eight laps remaining and claim his first win of the year and third overall in the series. "This really was a team win" said the driver afterwards. "The guys were here starting at 7 o'clock this morning, it's a really hot day and I just can't say enough about this Home Hardware Group, John Fitzpatrick and Fitzpatrick Motorsports".

With the victory Thomson sits alone in second spot in the overall driver standings.

-credit: hht1