John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet team began the final third of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season at Cayuga Speedway this past Saturday. As usual J.R. had a fast race car and was looking to make some headway in the overall points standings. Sadly in what is becoming the norm the actions of others severely impacted the finishing position of the team.
The Milwaukee Electric Tools car showed great speed during the early practice sessions but J.R. did not have the same comfortable car during second practice. “The rubber from some of the cars in the other racing series was really causing us some problems” he stated. The team however made the necessary adjustments and gave Fitzpatrick the handling and speed he was seeking. J.R. would post the second fastest time during qualifying and join his teammate Don Thomson Jr. on the front row for the 200 lap race.
As the race began the two teammates raced hard but gave each other room to each lead a lap and gain bonus points. Fitzpatrick looked to settle into a solid early race pace and let more aggressive drivers through so as not to cause problems. “It makes no sense to run that hard early” he concluded. Despite his best intentions trouble would once again fin the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy. Contact with Fitzpatrick’s teammate initiated by the 02 car would cause a huge pile up on the backstretch collecting several cars including the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet.
Due to the severity of the collision the race would be red flagged for several minutes to clear the cars and debris. “I just can’t believe it; this is the third time we’ve been collected by somebody else. One second I’m coming out of turn two hard on the gas, and in the next moment my teammate is coming toward me, two good race cars got wrecked by this and it’s totally unnecessary”.
The Milwaukee Electric Tools team went to work immediately to try and make repairs to allow Fitzpatrick to get back into the race. The team would get J.R. back into the competition and the car was surprisingly quick. “If the car was that fast, being bent up, it would have been incredible in peak shape, we definitely would have had a car to win. I just don’t understand how you drive like that early in the race, when we got back in after making the repairs we still weren’t at halfway”.
After nine events J.R. Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools team are now sixth in the overall point standings.
J.R Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools team are back in action this Saturday evening at Barrie Speedway. More information on the series can be obtained by visiting www.nascar.ca All twelve races will also be shown on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
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