September 22, 2012. For the second time in the last three seasons DJ Kennington is the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion. The driver of the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge scored his seventh race win of the season in the final event at Kawartha Speedway near Peterborough, ON on Saturday night to secure the points title.
The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team’s methodical approach to the season once again had them as the fastest car during practice and Kennington would net the fourth starting spot with his qualifying run. “The car felt great at usual” said the driver. “The team did an awesome job and we were set up to run really consistent over long runs” he added.
Needing a 19th finishing position or better to assure himself of the championship, Kennington ran with the lead group of cars inside the top five in the early going of the 250 lap feature. He maintained that status for pretty much the entire race. “We wanted to run up front as we usually do and give ourselves a chance at the win and also secure the championship” explained Kennington.
In the late stages of a green flag run Kennington would slip by the #84 car on lap 231. A late caution would set up a green-white-checker finish and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge would hold off the challenges and cross the finish line first giving the St. Thomas, ON driver his seventh win of the year and his second championship.
Not only did the race win assure Kennington of the championship but he set several series records including; most victories in a single season with seven, most oval track wins in a year with six, and a testament to the team’s consistent performance in 2012, most top five finishes in a year, 11.
In victory lane following the race Kennington was generous with his praise of all those that made this record setting season possible.
“I’ve said this before but I’ve got the best group of guys on any team. Starting with Dave Wight they just worked their butts off all year” he stated. ”My Dad, nobody knows how hard he works but I do and I can’t thank him enough along with the rest of my family”.
“And none of this would be possible without the great partners we have. Castrol Edge, without them I wouldn’t be racing, simple as that. Mahindra Tractors who stepped up their program this year, Super Clean, Hitachi Power Tools, Contact Welding Supplies, Bryan Cathcart, we couldn’t do what we do without their support”.
After finishing as a runner up on several occasions Kennington claimed his first series title in 2010 and it was a very emotional experience. Sharing his second with his new wife Jaimie who is pregnant with the couple’s first child was another kind of emotion. “It’s been an unbelievable year” said Kennington, Jaimie and I got married early this year, we found out that we were going to be parents this November and to share this with them is really very special” he stated.
You can watch the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race from Kawartha Speedway in High Definition on Saturday 6th at 4:30PM Eastern.
Kennington will be honoured for his championship along with other NASCAR Touring Series champions on Saturday December 8th at the NASCAR Touring Series Awards in the Grand Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Centre at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Race fans are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest DJK Racing team news in several ways. Race fans should bookmark the team website www.djkracing.ca and follow them on twitter, @djkracing and fans should also “like” the team Facebook Page DJK Racing.
