By: 22 Racing
June 18 2018
Donald Theetge driver of the #24 Mercedes-Benz St Nicolas/Circuit Acura Chevrolet Camaro started the Rankin Construction 200 on the outside of row one. Theetge was looking forward to the first oval event of the year in the NASCAR Pintys Series and especially at the track where he narrowly missed getting his first win in the series last year.
During the practice session, Theetge was quick right from the start in his #24 entry. He would end the session with the second quickest time which he backed up during qualifying with another second-place time.
While initially falling back to fourth in the 200-lap race, Theetge settled into a rhythm and made quick work of the competition in front of him. By lap 22 he was again in the second position, but the cars handling started going away and he fell back several positions before the competition caution at lap 75. He ducked into the pits and the team went to work making some adjustments. After restarting near the rear of the field Theetge again started picking off the cars in front of him. On lap 95 while running in the top three the #24 Camaro experienced a cut right front tire and Theetge scrubbed the wall. Unfortunately, too much front end damage was done for him to continue and he was credited with a 16th place finish.
“I knew we could run up front here after last year,” said Theetge after the race. “so this is a huge disappointment for our entire team. We had a good car all day and after the crew made adjustments on the pit stop we were fast again. I thought we had a good chance at a top three finish."
The Rankin Construction 200 will air on Saturday June 23rd at 2 p.m. on TSN 2 and on RDS2 on Tuesday, July 3 at 10:30 p.m.
Next on the schedule for the Donald Theetge #24 Mercdes-Benz St. Nicolas/Circuit Acura team is Autodrome Chaudiere on Saturday June 30th. In two previous NASCAR Pintys Series starts here Theetge has one pole and two top five finishes.
Donald Theetge is supported by the following sponsors: Mercedes-Benz St Nicolas, Circuit Acura, Antidote, V Télé, Le Soleil, XPN World et Québec Automobile Esthétique