VERNON, BC – Jason Hathaway, in his #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge travelled this week to the first of three races in Western Canada. Hathaway backed up his podium finish last event at Delaware Speedway with another podium finish at the A & W 300 at Motoplex in Vernon, BC.The day did not start off very well for the team as they chased the set up in their car right off the trailer.
Hathaway wasn’t happy overall with his day leading up to qualifying. “We have had great luck here in years before. We are 7th in practice, but I am not 100% happy with our car for tonight. We will have some work to do in the 300 lap event.”
Hathaway gave his team a lift when he placed his #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge 6th on the qualifying grid for the 300 lap event.
Off the top of the race Hathaway held his own and moved up to 5th in the running order. Unfortunately, the issues that the team had faced earlier in the day in practice began to crop back up. Crew Chief Craig Masters was able to make an adjustment on lap 88, but a long green flag run saw Hathaway go down a lap down to the leaders on lap 152.
Hathaway’s luck stared to come around when on lap 156 the caution flag came back out and Hathaway was awarded the free pass, placing him back on the lead lap. The next caution period finally allowed Hathaway to come to the attention of his over the wall crew taking on right side tires, fuel and left side tires in 3 separate pit stops.
With new tires and a tank full of fuel Hathaway restarted in the 12th spot. Posting consecutive fast laps, Hathaway was a man on a mission working his way back up through the field. He was able to put his car anywhere on the track and made passes on the high and low side of the track. By lap 213 Hathaway was 2nd in the running order. A great battle between Hathaway and the 22 car ensured as the two challenged each other for the 2nd spot. Hathaway pulled away from Steckley and brought home the team’s 2nd podium finish in as many events.
“Our finish tonight goes to show that you can never give up. We had a really bad set of tires and the car would not respond to what we threw at it earlier on. Going a lap down was not great, but when we were able to finally get tires and fuel we were on rails. The car was great and our guys did an amazing job making three stops and getting me what we needed. We have had a great start to the western swing.” Said a happy Hathaway in victory lane.
With this 2nd place finish Hathaway moves into 5th place in the overall championship points standings. The A &W 300 will be aired on TSN on July 22nd at 5pm EST. The team’s next event will be July 20th, 21st and 22nd as part of the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, Alberta. You can follow the team on line at www.team3red.com, on Facebook at team3red.edhakonsonracing and on twitter @jasonhathaway3 and @ehrt3r.
Ed Hakonson Racing is proud to be partnered with Snap-on Tools, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Vortex Brake Pads, Napoleon Grills, Castrol, Fast Eddie Racewear, Choko Motorsports, Praxair and Cathcart Trucking and King Brewery.
From Jamie Hakonson / EHR
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