DJ Kennington wins the 2012 edition of the Wilson Equipment 300 (photo by Ken MacIsaac; used with permission)

JAMES RIVER, N.S.(Sept. 15, 2012) – D.J. Kennington bounced right back to the cusp of a second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 championship.

A week after mechanical failure took a large chunk of his points lead, the St. Thomas, Ont., driver dominated the Wilson Equipment 300 en route to his sixth win of the season. With the season-finale looming next week at Kawartha Speedway, Kennington looks to put the finishing touches on the 2012 championship to go along with the one he captured in 2010.

Kennington’s nearest championship challenger, J.R. Fitzpatrick, finished second. Fitzpatrick won the pole position earlier in the day and traded the lead six times with Kennington throughout the event. But Kennington was too strong on long green-flag runs and pulled away to win by 3.453 seconds.

Kennington heads into the finale leading Fitzpatrick by 23 and Andrew Ranger by 30.

Mark Dilley finished third, followed by Scott Steckly and Ron Beauchamp Jr.

Donald Chisholm, Jason White, rookie Martin Roy, Noel Dowler and Isabelle Tremblay rounded out the top 10.

It is Kennington’s 17th career win, which includes a win at Riverside in 2010. He led a race-high 188 laps Saturday to Fitzpatrick’s 101. The six wins for Kennington this season equals Ranger’s single-season series record set in 2009.

The Wilson Equipment 300 will air on TSN on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Noon ET, and on RDS2 on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 10 p.m.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 concludes the season with the Pinty’s 250 presented by Dodge at Kawartha near Peterborough, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 22.

The Wilson Equipment 300 concludes Riverside International Speedway’s 2012 season.

UNOFFICIAL – NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by MOBIL 1-Wilson Equipment 300 Results

(Start position in parentheses)

  • 1. (5) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 300 laps, 62.286 mph.
  • 2. (1) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ont., Chevrolet, 300.
  • 3. (4) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Ford, 300.
  • 4. (2) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 300.
  • 5. (8) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 300.
  • 6. (9) Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, N.S., Ford, 300.
  • 7. (10) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 300.
  • 8. (6) Martin Roy, Napierville, Que, Dodge, 299.
  • 9. (18) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 298.
  • 10. (14) Isabelle Tremblay, St. Hippolyte, Que., Dodge, 298.
  • 11. (11) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 297.
  • 12. (7) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 295.
  • 13. (12) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 287.
  • 14. (15) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que., Dodge, 249.
  • 15. (16) Mike Scholz, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Chevrolet, 241, suspension.
  • 16. (17) Hugo Vannini, Repentigny, Que., Ford, 88, accident.
  • 17. (3) Jason Hathaway, Dutton, Ont., Dodge, 72, engine.
  • 18. (13) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 4, electrical.
  • 19. (19) Dave Connelly, Arnprior, Ont., Dodge, 3, suspension.
  • 20. (20) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 1, ignition.


Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 36 minutes 14 seconds

Margin of Victory: 3.453 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: J.Fitzpatrick (82.245 mph, 14.576 seconds)

Caution Flags: 6 for 43 laps.

Lead Changes: 8 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Fitzpatrick 1-67; D. Kennington 68-97; J. Fitzpatrick 98; M. Roy 99-109; D. Kennington 110-190; J. Fitzpatrick 191-220; D. Kennington 221; J. Fitzpatrick 222-224; D. Kennington 225-300.

Standings: 1. D. Kennington, 470; 2. J. Fitzpatrick, 447; 3. A. Ranger, 440; 4. S. Steckly, 433; 5. R. Beauchamp,Jr., 389; 6. L. Dumoulin, 363; 7. J. Hathaway, 357; 8. J. White, 345; 9. M. Roy, 344; 10. N. Dowler, 335.

Riverside International Speedway, a 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval, is located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104. Opened in 1969, the facility was totally rebuilt in 2006 to become a premiere motorsports site, comparable to the best short tracks in Canada and the U.S. To learn more about Riverside Int’l Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.