CASCAR: Kenny Forth Posts Career Best Result in Season Opener

LONDON, ON - Kenny Forth and his Midnight Sun Tanning Salon / Parkinson Tours / CHAM 820 ‘The Legend’ Ford Taurus arrived at Delaware Speedway on Victoria Day weekend for the Mopar 250. The event was the first of the 2005 championship season, and Forth was anxious to be running the entire tour for the second time.

The first event of the weekend was practice and the team was forced to work on the car throughout the session as a loose condition was making it tough for Kenny to handle. The crew made a number of adjustments during the two-hour session, and were able to tighten the car up with those changes. When the session ended Forth was shown as 24th quickest on the speed chart with a fast lap of 20.193 seconds. “We sorted out the loose issue and the car was very stable. I was confident that we were going to be able to have a successful weekend.”

The race against the clock was next during time trials and Forth turned in the 21st fastest lap, stopping the timer with a lap of 20.194 seconds, almost identical to his fastest practice time. “That was, by far, the best qualifying effort I’ve ever had here. I’m very optimistic about tomorrow.”

Sunday’s feature kicked off under overcast skies as Forth accepted the green from the inside of row 11. When the green dropped, Kenny started to make his way forward, gaining a few spots, to show up in 18th before heading to pit road on lap 83. Problems led to a restart from the back of the pack and Forth was able to work his way forward again. ”Our car got a bit tight as the day went on, but it wasn’t too bad at all.”

Another problem would arise a few laps later as Forth pulled onto pit road for the team to check his car over. “I thought something was wrong with the car. The car was slipping and sliding all over the place.” Another car has been leaking oil, and Forth had misdiagnosed that loss of grip as something wrong with the car. “We were looking for a broken axle, a flat tire, or something else. When we figured out that we were all right, we just changed right side tires and went back out, but it cost us a few laps.”

Forth would continue to battle on, though a handful of laps down, making laps and trying to finish as strong as he could. Only his lightning reflexes helped him avoid disaster on lap 187 as two cars spun in front of him coming off or turn two. Forth managed to keep the car in one piece and continued until the checkered flag, bringing home a 19th-place finish. “We’re pleased with the weekend as a whole. We were faster here then we’ve ever been before, and I have to pass the credit for that one onto the crew. This winter, former CASCAR driver Billy Innes and his crew chief Dave Bailey came to work with us, and it’s paid off already. Those two guys have so much experience and made our car a lot better. The other positive that we take from today is finishing. I’ve done this race four or five times before, and I’ve never been around to see the checkered flag before.”

The next event for the Forth Racing Team will be Saturday June fourth at Autodrome Ste. Eustace for the Whelen 200. “I’ve been to Ste. Eustache before, and it’s a fun place to race. It’s totally different then Delaware. There is no banking at all, and you really have to work the throttle, not like this weekend when you just mat it coming out of the turns.”

Prepared by Maudsley Motorsports

CASCAR: Dilley’s Dodge charges to third at Mopar 250

London, ON – May 22 2005: Starting from eighth position, Mark Dilley drove his heart out to capture a third place finish and a strong debut of the new Dodge Charger during the season opening Mopar 250 at Delaware Speedway on Sunday. Windsor’s Ron Beauchamp Jr. earned his first victory in seven years driving the Mopar Parts Dodge Charger while team-mate Dave Whitlock finished second to make an all-Dodge podium.

“I am so happy for Dodge, Mopar, Mobil1, Exide and everyone else that’s helped us bring this new #9 Dodge team together this year” said an exhausted Dilley who ran in the top-five all day. “It’s been a whirlwind ever since we unveiled this new Charger on Tuesday and to be here on the podium is just awesome. It’s great also for Ronnie to get this big win and to have an all-Dodge podium at this Mopar event is big for everybody. We have a few new guys on the team this year and they gave me great pit stops and Whitlock Motorsports gave us a great car.”

“I have to say also that Don Thomson Jr. is a class act. We raced so hard most of the race and he never leaned on me or bumped me; he made me work for it though – I have never, ever drank all of my water in a race before. He kept me focused on my mission, and here I am on the podium.”

Dilley charged to 4th position by lap 75 and pitted at lap 102. On lap 119, he was in 3rd but fell to 5th by lap 130. During his final pit on lap 172, he got out ahead of Thomson’s #4 Home Hardware Chev and for the balance of the race, the two were virtually under a blanket, with Dilley never relinquishing the position. Whitlock slipped under both of them during the final 13-lap sprint but his chase of leader Beauchamp ran out of time.

On TV: this race will air at 9 p.m. on June 11 on SPORTSNET.
Next CASCAR Super Series race: June 4 at Montreal’s Autodrome Ste. Eustache.

For more information about the schedule and CASCAR see www.cascar.ca
For more about the team and sponsors see www.whitlockmotorsports.com