The #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
August 21, 2011. Calgary, Alberta’s Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford were back in action for round number nine of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. While the team didn’t have racing luck on their side, the team showed well with another gritty effort.
Rain greeted the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team during the practice session and Whissell once again showed his skills in the wet going as he posted the 8th fastest time early in practice. As the track dried out at the end of practice Whissell stayed in the pits, a mistake which saw them slip to 18th.
During the Friday qualifying session an issue with the distributor would hamper the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford. “There was an issue with the wiring and it wasn’t firing properly so we were down on power” explained the driver. “While it hurts in qualifying we did get it corrected for the race” he added.
Whissell would begin the 100km feature event from the 24th position and was successful in improving his position in the early going. “We had a good car in the beginning and were sticking with our plan and I picked up a few positions” said Whissell.
Following an early caution period fortunes for the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team changed dramatically. “We had a restart from a caution period on lap 7” explained the driver. “Things got a little chaotic going into the hairpin and I think the #55 car got a little loose and it was enough to send me into the outside wall and we broke a front tie rod” he stated.
Whissell would bring the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford to pitlane and the crew went to work. “The guys worked really hard to get the car back together and I got back out to run a few more laps” said the driver. “I was disappointed not being able to finish the race on the lead lap and compete for a top ten finish as we thought was possible. But the car was really good and it was nice to get out and put in a few laps at the end of our final race of the year. I think the whole crew enjoyed seeing the car go back out there as well” he added.
This was the final event on the schedule for Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team. They would like to take this opportunity thank all of their sponsorship partners from this season. “Once again this year we had a very supportive group of backers and I can’t thank them enough for all their help” said Whissell. “We didn’t have all the results we’d hoped for but their backing makes our program possible” he added.
The team is also very proud to have raised $4,500 for the Children’s Miracle Network this season. Everyone involved would like to remind all the race fans they can make donations by going to the website www.helpmakemiracles.ca and clicking on the racing for kids link.
For the latest team updates fans are encouraged to follow Jarrad Whissell on twitter, @jarradwhissell and by going to the team website www.jarradwhissell.com
Photo Credit: Joe Hamilton
SMS Equipment, Whissell Motorsports and the Children’s Miracle Network are pleased to announce Laps for Kids at Stratotech Park on September 30, 2011.
