D.J. Kennington shrugs off tough luck as season reaches halfway point

He overcame some early-season adversity in the NASCAR Canada Series to earn a third-place finish in the Delta Electrolytes 150.

Article content The tough breaks could be in the rear-view mirror. D.J. Kennington overcame some early-season adversity in the NASCAR Canada Series to earn a third-place finish in the Delta Electrolytes 150 at Autodrome Montmagny in Quebec. The driver of the No. 17 Castrol Dodge hopes to build on that momentum as the 14-race schedule reaches its halfway point this weekend at Calabogie Motorsports Park near Ottawa.

“We’ve just had bad luck,” Kennington, the series ironman, said. “It’s nothing as far as performance goes. We’ve been really good, had lots of speed and just haven’t been able to get finishes.

We’ve had three flat tires, a power steering issue at CTMP (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) while we were running in the top five. So it’s good to have a solid race with no issues, no problems and a good result.” Has the veteran endured this many unforeseen mishaps in a single season before?

Of course. “We’ve been at it for 35 years,” he said. “It’s happened many times.

There’s not much you can do about it. You’ve just got to keep working hard and try to get things turned around. A lot of times, I say you’ve got to make your own luck.

It’ll turn around and hopefully we get the ball rolling and keep digging in here.” Marc-Antoine Camirand, the two-time defending series champion, is rolling again with four race wins in six starts. There is a logjam behind him in the standings, with Kennington sitting fifth.

“Every race, we’ve been in the top 10, which is good,” said the St. Thomas native, who finished second in the standings last season. “We’re only (nine points) out of second. Camirand has a big lead on everybody now, but who knows?

Bad stuff can happen to him – or maybe it won’t. We just have to keep working hard so we can capitalize on everything that we’re able to do.” Camirand won at Calabogie a year ago, but everyone feels like they’re starting from scratch on the eastern Ontario road course.

The circuit has since been completely repaved, which should lead to considerably faster lap times. “Everyone will be learning as we go,” Kennington said. “It’s all new asphalt and apparently there is tons of grip.

We’re just hoping it’s a little cooler than it is (early this week).” Practice and qualifying begin Saturday, with the race set for Sunday afternoon. The series then heads to Edmonton before wrapping up Sept. 12 at Delaware Speedway.

Kennington still has time to make up ground and make the season finale on his home track interesting. AT THE TRACK: Creemore’s Brandon Watson claimed victory at Flamboro Speedway this past weekend and is just four points behind Mt. Brydges racer Jake Sheridan in the United Racing League’s APC Late Model division. Lane Zardo won the Super Stock feature and holds an eight-point lead over St. Thomas’s Nic Ramsay in the championship chase.

Delaware Speedway will hold Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, featuring late models and V8 Stocks. Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs, 20 per cent off merchandise, a Delaware Speedway decal for the first 500 through the gates, and activities including free face painting. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 6 p.m.