NCATS: Mobil 1/Mopar Dodge slides out at Mosport

June 15, 2008.  The 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racing season resumed with round number two for Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts team at Mosport Raceway this past weekend.  After bouncing back from qualifying troubles and finding themselves at the front of the field the team fell victim to wet and slippery conditions on the challenging road course.

 

Quickly during Saturday’s qualifying session the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Avenger showed themselves as one of the most powerful contenders in the 29 car field.  “The car was great” said Ron Beauchamp Jr.  “Unfortunately we barely got going and we had a problem with the timing belt that would end our session early and we’d spend a lot of hours repairing”.  The repairs would also cost the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts team their eighth place starting spot on the grid putting them at the back of the field.

 

As the green flag began the 200km event Beauchamp lunged forward immediately, putting slower cars quickly behind him and setting his sight on the next competitor.  “This was what we expected” said Ron Jr.  “I knew we could make up some ground pretty quickly, there were some other good cars at the back and we all moved up together”.

 

As teams began to make their scheduled pit stops that also helped the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts team gain spots and on lap 25 Beauchamp would take over the lead.  Ron Jr would make his scheduled stop and look to continue his strong afternoon. 

 

From this point forward the weather would take over as the dominant story of the afternoon.  Clouds darkened and heavy rains began to soak the famed road course.  “Things got crazy after that” concluded Beauchamp afterwards.  “We were in third place so we tried to stay out and hang on but it got so unpredictable, I went into a corner and the front end started to go, then the back end, we were just trying to survive out there but I just ended up in the gravel.  All I was trying to do was stay on the track”. 

 

Beauchamp would return to the pits for rain tires but a strong finish was out of the question.  “Even with the rain tires these cars are so heavy and hard to handle it’s impossible to make up the lost track position.  The Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Dodge would be classified seventeenth at the finish.  “Hopefully we’ll have a dry day for the next race at Barrie, we’ll be ready” said the driver.    

 

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series resumes with round three on Saturday June 28th at Barrie Speedway.  This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on oval tracks, temporary street circuits and road courses.  All races will once again be broadcast on TSN.  You can read more about Team Mopar and Ron Beauchamp Jr. at www.beauchampmotorsports.com and www.nascar.ca

 

Photo :  Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge Avenger before the rain at Mosport

Photo Credit:  Todd Lewis

This release prepared by, TL Sports & Entertainment