Hot Weekend for Brantford Driver at Mosport: But Not the Kind of Results Doug Brown Was looking for

Prepared By: Ken Spencer, Marketing and Media Relations, Brown Auto Racing

Burnouts are usually reserved for the drag racing form of motorsports or for a victory salute following an oval track stock car racing win. But for Doug Brown, driver of the NAPA/AUTOPRO sponsored Monte Carlo in CASCAR Super Series competition it was a case of burn and bail out at Mosport International Raceway on Father’s Day.

On lap six of the scheduled 51-lap Series event, Brown was the victim of race course debris that opened a gaping hole in his car’s radiator and without warning the engine overheated, blew out excessive oil and suddenly burst into flames ending a weekend of frustrations for the veteran competitor at the historic racing circuit.

Fortunately Doug escaped without injury but the flames that entered the driver’s compartment of his car burned away the shifter shield and parts of the restraint harness and lower seat. The veteran competitor had already gained several spots on the field when the incident occurred.

Sunday’s problem was the end of a disappointing weekend for the Brantford-based team that began with Saturday’s preparations for the Sunday main event. The team was forced to switch to their back-up engine following practice sessions when a reoccurring oil pressure problem redeveloped in their main power plant. That delay forced the team to miss the first of two qualifying runs but despite the lack of horsepower, Doug managed to post the 26th fastest time that was more than adequate to get him a starting spot in the 33-car field.

A similar problem with their primary engine cost Doug a DNF in the season opener at Delaware and now has him well off the pace for a top-ten placing, his targeted objective, in the Super Series points standings.

Don Thomson Jr. of Ayr, driver of the Home Hardware Monte Carlo outran Jeff Lapcevich of Caistor Centre in the Fastline / Tim Horton’s/ EMCEA Transport Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Thomson’s team-mate, sophomore JR Fitzpatrick of Ayr in the Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo to claim the victory. Pole sitter Peter Gibbons of Stouffville brought his Canadian Tire Monte Carlo home in fourth place with Jim Lapcevich of Hamilton fifth in the other Fastline / EMCEA Transport/ Tim Horton’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo making it a clean sweep for Chevrolets in the top-five finishing positions of the Berms R Us sponsored Clarington 200.

Doug Brown and the rest of the CASCAR teams now prepare for Barrie Speedway and race number four in the 12-race Super Series schedule. The July 1-3 Canada Day weekend special is the Dodge Charger 300 presented by the Dodge Dealers of Ontario.

For additional information on Brown Auto Racing, see www.dougbrown.net or contact Doug Brown at (519) 752-9531