CONCORD, N.C. (August 20, 2012) – Patrick Carpentier joined RAB Racing this weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to compete in Saturday’s NAPA AUTO PARTS 200. Carpentier demonstrated the speed of RAB Racing’s Toyota Camry in practice but an early-race brake failure forced the team behind the wall.The hard work of the RAB Racing team was once again put on display as Carpentier returned to the track, able to salvage a 29th-place finish.
Making the only international trip on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit to Montreal, Canada,Carpentier and RAB Racing recorded the 12th and eighth-fastest times, respectively, in the two scheduled practices leading up to the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200.
Later that afternoon, Carpentier ran a lap of 102.198 seconds, at an average speed of 95.427 mph, to earn the 13th starting position for the final road course race of the 2012 season.
Upon taking the green flag on Saturday afternoon, the Quebec, Canada-native was plagued with misfortune. Only six laps in, Carpentier was penalized by NASCAR for cutting the corner in Turn 14and forced to come to a complete stop on the racetrack. After he got back up to speed, a rear brake line on the No. 99 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry was severed after being hit by debris on the track, forcing Carpentier to pit for repairs. He brought the NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry to the attention of his RAB Racing crew, where lengthy repairs saw Carpentier return to the track 12 laps down. The five-time Champ Car Series winner logged laps for the remainder of the event, taking the checkered flag in the 29th position.
The next stop for the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 24th, 2012.
