Stouffville, Ontario. September 19, 2016 – Jason Hathaway and his #3 Raybestos/Thornbury Clear Choice Pools/HGC Chevrolet dominated the field on Sunday afternoon for the Kawartha 250 with a 5-second margin of victory, bringing home his 3rd win at Kawartha Speedway. After the announcement of Hathaway’s retirement from full time competition on Thursday afternoon, the team had one intention on race day and that was to back up their 2015 win with another Kawartha 250 win. With rain looming all day, the team made quick work of their practice session and fine-tuned their car. Hathaway was 7th on the speed charts, but content with his race machine for the 250 lap event. The skies did open up in the early afternoon and washed out the remainder of the day.

The team regrouped Sunday morning for qualifying and Hathaway put his #3 Chevrolet 7th on the grid. The race finally got underway at 1pm with perfect racing weather, sunny skies and warm temperatures. In the true style that has made him an awesome short track winner, Hathaway got to work at the drop of the green flag and by lap 59 was running 2nd. The field rotated through their first round of pit stops under caution and Hathaway and his team elected to stay out, assuming the lead on lap 65. Hathaway stayed on point until lap 148, when he came down pit road for tires and fuel under caution and went out 5th in the running order. Hathaway’s car was again on rails and he regained the lead on lap 175, never looking back. In dominating style Hathaway lapped the field up to 7th place, fought off numerous restarts and held the lead until the checkered flag flew.

An emotional Jason Hathaway climbed from his car on Sunday afternoon, after an impressive burnout, to the cheers of the crowd at Kawartha Speedway with his family around him. “I couldn’t have scripted this win today any better. We had a strong car, great work in the pits by my crew and great strategy. We stuck to our plan and it worked so well for us here today. This is a great way to end my NPS full time career. Thanks to Ed and Heidi Hakonson for all of their support, my guys and their families and all of our sponsors that have been with us through thick and thin. We appreciate all of the kind messages that our family and team have received over the past few days and are thankful for our racing family that we are a proud part of in this country.”

STOUFFVILLE, ONTARIO. September 15, 2016 – Jason Hathaway and his #3 NASCAR Pinty’s Series team will be hitting the track for the last time as a full time competitor this coming weekend at Kawartha Speedway. After a very successful on track career spanning 12 seasons and 121 straight NASCAR races, Jason Hathaway will be stepping away from full time competition in the series.

“I have had a great career and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments and our team’s accomplishments on the track. Narrowly missing the Championship several times and 8 NASCAR wins are some of my cherished accomplishments. I think my greatest and most humbling achievement was being honored as the 2015 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Most Popular Driver. We have accomplished so much as a team and as a racing family. We have travelled across the country, met some great people and fans along the way and have built some truly awesome friendships with NASCAR officials and fellow competitors. The team we have built is a tight knit group that truly enjoy being around each other and are a part of each other’s family.”

“My wife Jamie and I feel that 2017 is a great time to pursue some other projects we have on the go and want to spend more time with our children. We have enjoyed having them with us trackside and nothing had brought me more joy in all of my accomplishments than to see the love that they have been shown by our racing family in the shop and at the track. The coolest memories of my racing career will always be the snapshots of our kids growing up and revelling in watching Dad “do his job” on the race track each week. I love being their hero. My family has always been very supportive of my career and have stood by me with all of the ups and downs that racing brings. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to all of the crew members that I have worked with over my years in racing. To my shop and crew guys, Don, Gary, Graham, JT, Phil, Jeff, Rich and Grunt; thank you to you and your families for all of the dedication you have given me. The average person doesn’t understand the time that is involved in this sport and I appreciate the commitment you have given this team and myself. Thank you to all of my sponsors over the past 12 seasons. I am especially thankful for our team owner Ed Hakonson for all of his time and support in allowing me to pursue the sport I love so much.” – Jason Hathaway

Saint-Eustache, Quebec- September 10, 2016– Jason Hathaway and his #3 Raybestos/Fast Eddie Speedwear Chevrolet had an eventful race at the flat Autodrome Saint-Eustache oval near Montreal, Quebec.

Hathaway’s car came off the trailer pretty stable and he practiced well, gaining 7th place in the first session and 4th place in the second session. The looming rain finally came in the late afternoon just before the qualifying session and the starting field was set by the times established in the first practice.

The excitement started with the drop of the green flag as the 16 car field-barrelled into corner one. A rookie driver sailed into the corner and spun Hathaway causing damage to the car. Crew Chief Craig Masters brought the car down pit road and the team cleared away the damaged fiberglass. Coming back into the race, Hathaway started 14th in the field and worked his way up to 7th place. The caution flag was brought out as Hathaway was once again spun by the 18 car, putting Hathaway a lap down to the leaders. NASCAR then suspended the race due to rain.

An hour later, the race got back underway and the team made some more repairs to the car and focused on getting themselves into a position to earn their lap back. The chance finally came on lap 115. Once they were back on the lead lap, the Team didn’t look back. Hathaway was a man on a mission and drove his way up to 2nd place by lap 177.

With 5 laps to go, Hathaway was spun again by the 18 car, the same driver that spun him earlier in the race. The wreck put the team back to 10th position. With a green-white-checkered finish, Hathaway drove his way back to 6th place. Hathaway was assessed an aggressive driving penalty under caution and was scored 10th in the official finish.

Hathaway was frustrated with their great night being hampered by one driver the entire race. “We had a great car tonight,” he explained. “It’s a shame that some drivers can’t just be patient and smart all at the same time. When you come up on one driver every lap and wonder how he is going to race you or wreck you, it isn’t good for the sport. NASCAR can only officiate so much and the rest is up to us as drivers to settle on the track. Our team did an awesome job dealing with what was put in front of us and I’m proud to have them behind me. They showed class and caliber.”

The Lucas Oil 250 will air on TSN on Sunday, September 18th and 1pm EST.

Jason Hathaway and his NASCAR Pinty’s Series team will return to the track for the final race of the 2016 season on Saturday, September 17th, 2016 for the Kawartha 250 at Kawartha Speedway.