Oil Temperature, Accident Make Loudon Short for Dupuis
Loudon, NH (July 15, 2005) – For the second straight race, Renee Dupuis found herself on the outside looking in as a race concluded Friday, having had her day ended early by a lap 60 accident.
After qualifying was cancelled due to torrential rain storms that passed through the area on Thursday, Dupuis found herself starting well up in the field thanks to her strong points position. Despite drafting well in the beginning of the race and gaining positions, all was not well with the #90 car. The oil temperature was extremely high, and Dupuis was forced to make a green flag pit stop on lap 17 to attempt to remedy the problem.
"Before the oil temperature skyrocketed, we were actually holding our own out there," said Dupuis. "Running and passing in the draft is a wild feeling. Running at those speeds, you have to have a great deal of trust in the guys you are running with."
Dupuis rejoined the field 2 laps down and in 35th position. While the car was no longer on the lead lap, it did still hold the draft well, and Dupuis was able to battle with other lap-down cars for position. By the time lap 57 rolled around, Dupuis had picked her way off back up to 30th - and was the first car not on the lead lap – thus in position to pick up the “lucky dog” should a caution fell.
When the caution fell however, it was for Dupuis.
"I got loose going into turn one and then got together with the 99," said Dupuis. “When we hit, my tie-rod snapped and - with no steering - we bounced the right front off the wall. It was actually a minor hit - compared to how bad it could have been.”
With the car unable to get back going, Dupuis took the mandatory ambulance ride to the infield care center, while the #90 machine left the track on the hook of a tow truck. With the car damaged too much to continue, the team retired from the race, finishing in 32nd place, 42 laps down.
The Whelen Modified Tour continues onward to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine this weekend, with the race scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 PM ET.
