2008 Coke Zero 200

Coordinates: 42°56′06″N 79°58′00″W / 42.935061°N 79.966565°W / 42.935061; -79.966565

The 2008 Coke Zero 200 Pres. by Sicard Holiday Campers,^[2] the second running of the Coke Zero 200 event, was a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racing event that was held on August 30, 2008, at Cayuga International Speedway in Haldimand County's community of Nelles Corners.

This race is not related to the 2008 Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing event; which took place on July 5, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Background

Cayuga International Speedway was opened in 1966 as a dirt track, but was paved the following year when the vehicles started to become too dangerous fast for the dirt tracks. It was considered to be one of Canada's premier racing facilities. It is a ⅝-mile oval similar in size to Martinsville Speedway. The track has held a variety of different racing groups including CASCAR, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the American-Canadian Tour, NASCAR Busch North, Hooters Pro-Cup, USAC, ISMA Supermodifieds, DIRT Modifieds and the ARCA RE/MAX Series (which is considered to be one of the developmental milestones to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series). Set on 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land, Cayuga offers campgrounds with electricity, concession booths, and free parking.

On June 8, 2006, a group of developers from Toronto purchased the ⅝ mile track from its original owners and made improvements for the 2007 season, hoping to attract NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly called the Busch Series) to have a race at Cayuga Speedway. Instead, the race went to Montreal (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve) due to its larger population and recognition in the international community.^[3] Cooper Construction of Oakville was announced as the vendor to re-build the track. Cayuga International Speedway Park hosted the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race in series history on May 26, 2007.

Summary

Pre-race

Don Thomson, Jr. would clinch the pole position for this race by driving up to 107.645 miles per hour (173.238 km/h) during the same-day qualifying sessions.^[2]

Prior to the race, a pre-race invocation was given which was followed by the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems.

Race

There were 22 drivers on the grid; all of them were born in Canada. Out of this 203-lap event, about 23% of this event was held under a caution flag while the average green flag run was 20 laps. Anthony Simone would be credited as the last-place finisher due to problems with his suspension on the fourth lap. He would commit a false start violation and be black flagged. However, Thomson, Jr. was not disqualified and went on to continue the race.^[2]

The average speed of the race was 69.552 miles per hour (111.933 km/h) and the event lasted for one hour and forty-nine minutes; not counting the 165-minute delay that occurred due to the instability of the racing lights. Mark Dilley would defeat Andrew Ranger by nearly three-quarters of a second in front of an undisclosed amount of spectators. A problem with their electricity generator caused a 10-lap caution with all the cars forced to stop where they were. At the end of the race, 12 cars made up the lead lap. Most of the field were driving vehicles that was affiliated with either the Chevrolet or Dodge manufacturer.^[2]

Major sponsors for the drivers on the starting grid include Wal-Mart, Tim Hortons, Home Hardware, Interstate Batteries, and Ubisoft. Individual driver winnings for this event ranged from $8,200 for the winner ($9,112.71 when adjusted for inflation) all the way to a meager $980 for the last-place finisher ($1,089.08 when adjusted for inflation).^[2] Due to the small qualifying grid typically found at NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racing events, everyone qualified for this racing event.^[4] Although the price of gas was recorded at nearly $1.30/litre ($5.20/gallon) just prior to race day for some of the busier gas stations,^[5] those who could afford to go to the race greatly appreciated the race prior to the lengthy blackout.

Due to the mostly regional atmosphere of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, this race was never aired in any other country besides Canada.

Finishing order

* Driver failed to finish race

Timeline

• Start of race: Don Thomson, Jr. started the race with the pole position
• Lap 3: D.J. Kennington took over the lead from Don Thomson, Jr.
• Lap 4: Anthony Simone had problems with his suspension; causing him to withdraw from the event
• Lap 5-12: Jason Hathaway and Kent Nuhn crashed into each other, causing the race's first caution flag
• Lap 13: Scott Steckly took over the lead from D.J. Kennington
• Lap 14: D.J. Kennington took over the lead from Scott Steckly
• Lap 24: Kerry Micks took over the lead from D.J. Kennington
• Lap 50-54: Jason White would spin hazardously into turn 3, bringing out the second caution flag
• Lap 54: Doug Brown's vehicle had an issue with his ring gear, forcing him to leave the race
• Lap 57: D.J. Kennington took over the lead from Kerry Micks
• Lap 70: Mark Dilley took over the lead from D.J. Kennington
• Lap 81-91: Lighting failure at the track caused the third caution flag
• Lap 95-97: Kent Nuhn spun dangerously into turn 3; causing the fourth caution flag
• Lap 137: Ron Beauchamp, Jr. took over the lead from Mark Dilley
• Lap 162-166: D.J. Kennington would spin unsafely into turn 4, causing the fifth caution of the race
• Lap 163: Mark Dilley took over the lead from Ron Beauchamp, Jr.
• Lap 164: Kent Nuhn took over the lead from Mark Dilley
• Lap 167: Ron Beauchamp, Jr. took over the lead from Mark Dilley
• Lap 184-191: Kerry Micks performed a hazardous spin into turn 4, causing the sixth caution of the event
• Lap 192: Mark Dilley took over the lead from Ron Beauchamp, Jr.
• Lap 196-201: John Gaunt caused the final caution of the race by stopping dangerously into turn 4, making the race go into overtime
• Finish: Mark Dilley won the race

Standings after the race

References