After Steve Mathews led the final 64 laps, it’d be all Jason Hathaway and Mark Dilley as the pair traded the lead for the rest of the 300 lap event. Dueling side-by-side on the quarter-mile oval, both drivers fought hard all race long, though it was Hathaway that’d come out on top, putting his No. 3 Rockstar Energy Drink/HGC Chevrolet in Budweiser 300 victory lane.
“It was a great track,” Hathaway commented. “I’ve been pretty pumped since the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series announced that we were coming to Chaudière here. Heard great things about the place and it didn’t disappoint as it was a great show. Glad we had a little green-white-checkered as I didn’t want to stink up the show too bad. Mark Dilley and I put on a good show at the end.”
Hathaway’s victory at the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Autodrome Chaudière marks his third victory in his last five series starts and his fourth career victory overall.
“Mark and I – we always race each other clean,” Hathaway continued. “We’ve known each other a long time and have a lot of respect for each other. We ran a couple late model shows together so guess it paid out in the end.”
Mark Dilley would finish second in his first start of the 2014 season for the 27th top-five finish of his career. Pole sitter Steve Mathews finished third, followed by Scott Steckly and L.P. Dumolin.
2013 Rookie of the Year Alex Guenette finished sixth, followed by D.J. Kennington and J.R. Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, who won the season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, had to fight back after being spun while running second with 10 laps to go. Noel Doweler and Jason White rounded out the top 10.
There would be multiple incidents throughout the day as the caution flag flew five times over the course of the 300 laps. One of the bigger incidents involved Anthony Simone as he had a good run going before being spun by Guenette, and then being hit by Ray Courtemanche Jr. Alex Tagliani also got caught up in an incident or two as he finished 14th in his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series oval debut.
Heading to Circuit ICAR for the Jiffy Lube 100 presented by La Petite Bretonne on July 6th, Fitzpatrick leads Dumoulin by five points.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pres. by Mobil 1-Budweiser 300 Unofficial Results:
1. (3) Jason Hathaway, Dutton, Ont., Chevrolet, 301 laps, 56.876 mph.
2. (6) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Ford, 301.
3. (1) Steve Mathews, New Liskeard, Ont., Ford, 301.
4. (14) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 301.
5. (5) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivières, Que., Dodge, 301.
6. (7) Alex Guenette, Terrebonne, Que., Dodge, 301.
7. (10) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 301.
8. (11) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., Chevrolet, 301.
9. (13) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Chevrolet, 301.
10. (15) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 300.
11. (12) Hugo Vannini, Repentigny, Que., Ford, 298.
12. (8) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 295.
13. (17) Erica Thiering, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 293.
14. (4) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Dodge, 283.
15. (2) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Dodge, 281.
16. (9) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 269.
17. (16) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que., Dodge, 166, accident.
