Sechelt's Jessica Cyr has finally cut her teeth in the competitive CASCAR racing series.
Cyr raced last weekend at the Clarington 200 at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont.
She took her BOSCH CANADA/Snap on Tools#2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the 10-turn road course to try her hand at the first of several races she has marked on her schedule for the 2006 season.
Having never raced on the road course configuration, she put in some seat time and prepared for her CASCAR premier event with multiple test dates and reviewing previous CASCAR race footage.
Qualifying for the main event on Sunday afternoon took place on Saturday in one 30-minute session. She recorded the 10th fastest qualifying time in her segment, and for the majority of the session had the fastest lap on the track.
With the great at-shop preparation during the week by crew chief Pierce Jones and car chief Rainer Zeitner, Cyr's car was in great shape and started in the 25th position.
She got off to a great start and the team focused on completing the entire race.
On lap 13, she radioed into her crew that she had been hit by another racer and was having problems with traction.
She brought the car in on lap 18, and the pit crew changed tires and checked for damage. They sent the car back out onto the track, but had to bring the car back in for a closer look. With further examination, they found a broken axle and bent rear end, caused by the run-in on the track. The team was forced to end their day early on lap 20, recording a 28th finishing spot.
"I was just starting to get the hang of the track when we got hit," Cyr said.
"The car was working well and I was having fun out there. Our crew worked well together this weekend and I can't wait to compete with these great racers again. I have gained a great appreciation for the level of competition in CASCAR.
"My crew chief got a bunch of his buddies together and formed the team. We're all rookies, just trying to learn as much as we can. It's been a lot of fun."
Team owner Ed Hakon-son was impressed with the team effort he saw on the weekend.
"We are very happy with all of our crew and Pierce this weekend," Hakonson said. "Jessica did a great job for her first race and she has shown some real talent. She is going to be a great addition to our team and the CASCAR Super Series."
Cyr turned 20 on Tues-day, so getting in her first CASCAR race was an early birthday present.
Cyr is hoping to race in two or three more events later this year.
She'll spend July here on the Coast and heads back to Ontario in August to prepare for the next race.
"This year is all about gaining experience and preparing for next year," she said. "We're still trying to line up more sponsorship and get the finances in order. The goal is to race in the full series and all of the races next year. If I stay below racing in five events this year, I maintain my rookie status for next year, so that way I could hopefully contend for the rookie title. I'm having a blast and doing what I love - racing."
Sportsnet, the official broadcaster of CASCAR, will be showing highlights from last weekend's race at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
