On Saturday night at Riverside International Speedway, it’d be a storybook ending as hometown hero Donald Chisholm would cruise to victory lane in the Wilson Equipment 300. It marks Chisholm’s first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series career victory and comes at his home track, in which his family owns.
“It’s unbelievable,” he commented. “I just can’t honestly believe that it is happening. Like you’ve said, we’ve been fast and just had misfortune, and tonight it just stayed together. Pit strategy was unbelievable and we got so many cars down early that it gave us breathing room at the end. Can’t thank the guys enough for all their work and everybody that helps us. Hopefully it was a good show.”
Chisholm would get the lead with approximately 50 laps to go and was able to hold on the rest of the way en route to victory.
Alex Labbe kept his consistent finishes going, finishing second for the best career finish of his career.
“It’s real fun. My first podium in NASCAR,” he commented. “We had a good car at the end. We struggled at the beginning, but worked our way through the field when we got tires. I’m really happy to get our first podium in Antogonish.”
D.J. Kennington and Andrew Ranger would round out the top-four as only four drivers finished on the lead lap. With no cautions through the middle portion of the race, drivers were forced to pit under green, resulting in the majority of the field going a lap or two down. Kennington and Ranger were able to pass Chisholm in the last 20 laps to get themselves back on the lead lap.
“We started off pretty decent and were getting the cars better,” Kennington commented post-race. “We’ve struggled during the year with the car, but the guys have been working hard and have got it 100 times better. Its just been a rough year for us, but hopefully it’ll get the ball rolling so hopefully we can get on a roll the last three races.”
Mark Dilley would post a fifth place finish on his best track statistically, followed by points leader L.P. Dumoulin. Dumoulin missed qualifying and started at the rear of the field due to a blown engine during practice. J.R. Fitzpatrick finished seventh, followed by Noel Dowler, John Flemming and Matthew Scannell.
Jason Hathaway looked to be headed towards his second victory of the 2014 season when he would collide with the spinning car of Flemming while leading with 60 laps to go. Hathaway would get his Chevrolet repaired and finish 12th, 14 laps down to Chisholm. Stefan Rzadzinski and Scott Steckly also made contact with the wall throughout the night, finishing 14th and 15th, respectively.
The next race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on August 31st.
