September 24,
2011-Fraserville, Ontario– Jason Hathaway, in this #3 Snap on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge had high hopes of finishing up the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tires Series schedule at Kawartha Speedway with a strong showing and capture the highly contested 8^th place in the Driver Points Championship.

The car practiced well and Hathaway was comfortable with his race machine heading into the 250 lap event.  “We like this track and it has been good to us in past years. We are starting from a good spot in the field tonight and we are looking forward to the race tonight!” Said Hathaway during the fan favourite autograph session trackside.

Starting 9^th in the deep 26 car field, in true Hathaway form, Hathaway got to work right away with the drop of
the green flag. By lap 10 Hathaway was already on the move.  On lap 90 Crew Chief Craig Masters brought Hathaway’s race machine to the attention of his over the wall crew; changing left side tires and filling it with race fuel.
Hathaway went back out 15^th on the grid and put the hammer down working his way up the running order and by lap 100 was up to 11^th place.  Hathaway’s car was working well and the Team was looking for a solid finish.

The Teams’ luck took a drastic turn on lap 142 when an accident in corner 2 collected the #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge and forced Hathaway behind the wall for front end repairs. The Team worked feverishly on the car replacing the radiator and the braking system on the car. The Team caught a break when the caution flag flew on the on track activity.  This gave the team some more time to get their job complete. Hathaway rolled back out on the track in only 22 laps and went to task to earn driver points.  Hathaway ran quick laps and made up some
positions, finishing 21^st in the field.  Hathaway and his #3 Snap-on Tools/ Rockstar
Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge finished 9^th in the Driver Points Standings.

Hathaway summed up the Team’s night and year. “This is a hard way to finish off this season. The boys really worked
well together tonight and got our repairs done pretty fast.  Their hard work really showed what kind of team we have! This season we have had great cars each and every week and our cars looked great on the track and on the TSN TV coverage. The cars handled well, the crew worked on them to fine tune them and my Crew Chief Craig ran a great box during the race. We ran into some bad racing luck, like everyone has had every once and a while.  After I got my cast off from my hand and wrist injury, our luck turned and Barrie was really a great race to show what we were capable of a team.  Thank you to all of our sponsors for their support this season. It really meant a lot to us.”

The Kawartha 250 will air in a 90-minute special season finale on Saturday October 15 on TSN at 12:30 pm.

  Ed Hakonson Racing is proud to be partnered with Snap-on Tools, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Vortex Brake Pads, Napoleon Grills, Castrol, Fast Eddie Racewear, Choko Motorsports, Praxair and Cathcart Trucking.

Photo: Jason Hathaway and his crew
Left to Right & Hometown 
Jason Hathaway ( Driver)- Appin, Ontario
Don Brock (Tire Carrier)-Oshawa, Ontario
Craig Masters (Crew Chief- Tire Changer)-Ingersoll, Ontario
Derek Stone-( Tire Carrier) Buckhorn, Ontario
Phil Arnold( Spotter)- Oshawa, Ontario
Bryan Watts ( Jackman)- Uxbridge, Ontario
Ed Hakonson (Owner)- Stouffville, Ontario
Missing:
Josh Arnold (Tire Changer)- Oshawa, Ontario
Jamie Hakonson (Team Manager)- Uxbridge, Ontario
Rich Hischer (Fuel ) Havelock, Ontario

For additional Information please contact:
Jamie Hakonson
Ed Hakonson Racing/Team 3 red
905-642-1010
[email protected]

September 17, 2011 – Antigonish, Nova Scotia – Jason Hathaway, in this #3 Snap on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge took his race machine to the fast high banked 1/3 mile oval at Riverside Speedway hoping to continue the team’s momentum after his 2nd place finish at Barrie Speedway the weekend before.

Hathaway’s car practiced well. The cool weather however played havoc with his qualifying effort posting an 11th place starting spot for the 300 lap race.
“Our car is good and I’m pretty confident about our chances to rally towards the front later today.” said Hathaway during the autograph session trackside before the race.

When the green flag dropped once again Hathaway wasted no time taking his car toward the front. The Team took on fuel on lap 108 and turned Hathaway loose on the field in the 3rd spot. A miscue on pit road pit put Hathaway a lap down to the leaders on the Team’s tire stop on lap 144 As the race unfolded, the field saw long green flag runs without cautions. This prevented Hathaway from getting the lucky dog award and denied him the opportunity to get back on the lead lap. That didn’t deter Hathaway as he raced hard with the cars vying for every position on the track and earned a hard fought 7th place finish in the field. This finish tightened the point’s battle that has ensued between him and Jason White for the 8th spot in the Drivers Points Championship.

“Our car was great tonight, but with the green flags run and being down a lap it was hard to get a run at the leaders. Our car was strong and we could have tangled up at the very fornt for sure if we had been able to catch a caution. The fans here are great every year and the exposure out here is amazing.” Said Hathaway after the grueling 300 lap race.

Jason Hathaway and his #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge will be back on track for the season finale on Saturday, September 24th for the Kawartha 250 at the always exciting Kawartha Downs Speedway. The Komatsu 300 will air on TSN on Saturday September 24th at 2:30 pm.

Ed Hakonson Racing is proud to be partnered with Snap-on Tools, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Vortex Brake Pads, Napoleon Grills, Castrol, Fast Eddie Racewear, Choko Motorsports, Praxair and Cathcart Trucking.

For additional Information please contact:
Jamie Hakonson
Ed Hakonson Racing/Team 3 Red
905-642-1010
[email protected]

September 10, 2011 – Barrie, Ontario – Jason Hathaway, in this #3 Snap on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge played an awesome game of strategy coupled with some phenomenal driving to earn the Teams’ first podium of the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season.

This track has always been a favourite track of Hathaway’s and that was evident in practice when he ran some awesome lap times, earning 2nd place on the speed charts during practice.  Hathaway went out early in the qualifying order Saturday afternoon and recorded a mid pack 11th place starting spot.

Hathaway wasn’t too fazed by his starting spot. “The car didn’t come in as fast as we needed it to during qualifying, but I think we will be in good shape heading into the race tonight.”

With a reputation for being a high action, high caution event at the tight ¼ mile oval, Crew Chief Craig Masters and his driver knew they needed to get to the front in the early going to stay out of trouble and have their equipment in one piece for the end of the race.  Hathaway didn’t waste a single lap making his move on the inside of his competitors going into the first corner on the first green flag lap of the Wild Wing 300.

In a race laden with some 12 caution periods, Hathaway used each one to gain potions.  Bringing his #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge to the attention of his over the wall crew, Hathaway took on fuel and the crew made a chassis adjustment to keep up with the changing racetrack.  Going out 12th in the running order, Hathaway put the hammer down and worked his way up to the 6th spot.  The crew made another strategic pit stop on lap 127 and Hathaway put on a driving school taking his car towards the front again.

Hathaway took command of the race on lap 177 and lead for 48 laps.  The handling of the car tightened up so Hathaway dropped back to 4th and brought the car into the pits for a splash of fuel and another chassis adjustment on lap 248.  On the restart, the racey #02 car spun Hathaway.  Hathaway gathered his car back up and got back at it starting from the 8th spot.  He battled the #17 car for a number of laps and pulled into the 6th spot.  A late race caution with only 3 laps to go set the field up for a green, white, checkered finish.  Hathaway re-started amongst the lead pack including his teammate #8 Don Thomson Jr and the two E.H.R teammates battled it out down to the very end. Hathaway crossed the line with a fabulous 2nd place finish.

A pumped up Hathaway was proud of his team. “I have to first of all thank Snap-on Tools, Rockstar and Vortex and all of our sponsors for sticking with us these last few races. We have been working hard, but have had some really bad luck and it feels so good to finally break free of that. We have Napoleon here tonight at the track to share this with us and we are so excited!!  Thanks to my Crew Chief Craig, who ran an awesome race and my crew for getting me in and out of the pits every time without fail. Barrie always promises some great racing and tonight was no exception. The fans got a great show and we thank them for coming out to see us!”

Jason Hathaway and his #3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge will be back on track Saturday, September 17thfor the Komatsu 300 Presented by Wilson Equipment on the fast and Hathaway favourite Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.  The Wild Wing 300 from Barrie Speedway will air on TSN on Saturday September 17 at 12:30 pm. at 1 pm.

Ed Hakonson Racing is proud to be partnered with Snap-on Tools, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Vortex Brake Pads, Napoleon Grills, Castrol, Fast Eddie Racewear, Choko Motorsports, Praxair and Cathcart Trucking.

Click here to listen to Jason’s post-race interview.

For additional Information please contact:
Jamie Hakonson
Ed Hakonson Racing/Team 3 red
905-642-1010
[email protected]

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE HAMILTON