The Athenaeum Forum

SASKATOON – L.P. Dumoulin finally got the oval-track win he was looking for. The road-course ace from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, came out on top in a wild green-white-checkered finish to the Velocity Prairie Thunder 250 Wednesday in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 action at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway. Dumoulin and Joey McColm stayed out when the leaders pitted under caution inside of 10 laps to go to setup a dramatic finish on the .333-mile progressive-banked track. On the restart, new leader McColm get loose coming to the white flag and Dumoulin powered to the front. He then held off Jason Hathaway and Scott Steckly in a race to the checkered flag. It was the third career Canadian Tire Series victory for Dumoulin in the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge. His first two came on the road course at Ontarios Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2013. He also took over the championship points lead by 10 over JR Fitzpatrick. Behind Steckly, Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani brought home the top five. Like race winner Dumoulin, it was the best career oval finish for Tagliani. McColm salvaged a sixth-place finish, followed by Fitzpatrick, D.J. Kennington, Noel Dowler and Eric Thiering. It was shaping up to be a second straight victory at Auto Clearing for Steckly, who paced both practices and captured the pole earlier in the day. The defending event and series champion led the first 80 circuits from the pole and a race-high 153 in total. He had a commanding lead late in the race as he led 72 laps during an extended green-flag run -- putting all but five other cars down a lap -- before the final caution came out. McColm and Dumoulin had pitted much earlier in the race (Dumoulin on Lap 36) for their right side tires; drivers were allowed a maximum of two tires for this event. That left them out to fend off the challenge of Steckly and Co. on fresh tires. The race featured eight lead changes among five different drivers. Dumoulins only two laps led were the last two of the event. The Velocity Prairie Thunder 250 will premiere on TSN on Saturday, July 26 at 3 p.m. and on RDS2 on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. The Canadian Tire Series will return to action on Saturday, July 26 at Autodrome St. Eustache (Quebec) with the National 250. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pres. by Mobil 1-Velocity Prairie Thunder 250Unofficial ResultsWednesdayAt Auto Clearing Motor SpeedwaySaskatoon, Sask.Lap length: 0.333 miles(Start position in parentheses)1. (4) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivières, Que., Dodge, 251 laps, 60.874 mph.2. (5) Jason Hathaway, Dutton, Ont., Chevrolet, 251.3. (1) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 251.4. (3) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 251.5. (6) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Dodge, 251.6. (8) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 251.7. (12) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., Chevrolet, 251.8. (11) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 250.9. (7) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 250.10. (17) Erica Thiering, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 250.11. (15) Stefan Rzadzinski, Edmonton, Alta., Dodge, 249.12. (14) Nick Jewell, Fort Frances, Man., Dodge, 248.13. (13) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 237.14. (10) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Ford, 199.15. (2) Steve Mathews, New Liskeard, Ont., Chevrolet, 157.16. (18) Dennis Laforce, Athabasca, Alta., Chevrolet, 124, fan belt.17. (16) Ian Admiraal, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 113, electrical.18. (9) James Van Domselaar, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Chevrolet, 103, drive shaft.19. (19) Jason Hankewich, Kindersley, Sask., Chevrolet, 0, did not start. Race StatisticsTime of Race: 1 hour 22 minutes 23 secondsMargin of Victory: .154 secondsFastest Qualifier: S.Steckly (82.020 mph, 14.616 seconds)Caution Flags: 7 for 46 laps.Lead Changes: 8 among 5 drivers.Lap Leaders: S. Steckly 1-79; J. McColm 80-112; A. Ranger 113-127; J. Hathaway 128-170; S. Steckly 171-172; J. Hathaway 173; S. Steckly 174-245; J. McColm 246-249; L. Dumoulin 250-251. Standings: 1. L. Dumoulin, 209; 2. J. Fitzpatrick, 199; 3. A. Ranger, 191; 4. J. Hathaway, 187; 5. D. Kennington, 183; 6. S. Steckly, 175; 7. N. Dowler, 159; 8. J. McColm, 151; 9. A. Tagliani, 141; 10. S. Mathews, 125. Jonathan Quick Jersey . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. James van Riemsdyk Jersey . The Austrian ski federation said Morgenstern was "conscious and well responsive" and his condition would be monitored in the intensive care unit of a Salzburg hospital for the next 72 hours. The federation said it was "way too early" to judge Morgensterns chances of competing in Sochi, and that an update on his condition was not expected before Monday. http://www.hockeyauthenticusaonline.us/ ... -Jersey/.Y. -- The New York Islanders were merely content with a lopsided victory. Brian Rafalski Jersey . Lynchs attorney, Ivan Golde, told The Associated Press on Thursday of the plea deal that was reached with the Alameda County District Attorney Office. The plea will be formally entered in court in Oakland, Calif. James van Riemsdyk Team USA Hockey Jersey .Y. -- The Montreal Canadiens have had few reasons to celebrate this season as they have been mired near the basement of the Eastern Conference.DALLAS -- The Los Angeles Clippers have not tired of inflicting fourth-quarter pain on the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final period to beat the Mavericks 109-103 on Thursday night. Los Angeles has won all three meetings thus far, with second-half rallies in each game. Each meeting has also featured plenty of emotion. On Thursday, the teams combined for six technical fouls charged to players on the floor, three on each team. "We need to start playing like that more often, to tell you the truth," Chris Paul said after leading Los Angeles with 31 points, a night after going 0 for 12 in a two-point loss in New Orleans. "We knew it was going to be a playoff-type game. Theyre not just playing for their playoff lives; were trying to gear up for the playoffs, too." The Clippers got double-doubles from Blake Griffin (18 points, 13 rebounds) and DeAndre Jordan (16 points, 15 rebounds). Los Angeles maintained its one-game lead over Houston for third place in the Western Conference. Vince Carter scored 23 points off the bench for the Mavericks, going 4 for 5 on 3-pointers. Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points but only two in the fourth quarter. "Its tough. Its very frustrating," Carter said. "But we fought like hell to give ourselves a chance to win, and thats all you can do." Samuel Dalembert was questionable going into the game for Dallas because of a stiff back. He started, played 22 minutes and led the Mavericks with 11 rebounds -- all in the first half. The loss dropped Dallas a half-game behind Phoenix and into ninth place in the tight race for the final playoff berths in the West. The score was tied at 81 going into the final period before the Mavericks ran off the first 10 points. Los Angeles chipped away and tied it at 101 on a drive by Griffin. Dallas then committed a backcourt violation when a pass from Nowitzki back to Jose Calderon near midcourt went astray. Griffin followed with a spinning runner to give the Clippers the lead for good at 103-101. Griffin was pleased with the defence that he played on Nowitzki, who was 7 for 15 from the floor. ";For the past how many years, everything Ive heard is the things I couldnt do," he said.dddddddddddd. "One of the many things I cant do is play defence. "I take pride in the things I cant do. I just use that as motivation." The Clippers victory Thursday was their least dramatic in the series so far. They outscored the Mavericks 16-2 down the stretch to win by seven points in the first meeting on Jan. 5. Twelve days later, they rallied from 17 points down to win by two. A shoving match broke out early in the third quarter after the Mavericks brought the ball into the forecourt. Paul pushed Dallas Shawn Marion, who knocked into the Clippers Matt Barnes while falling over the end line. Barnes and Marion then had words, and Barnes shoved Marion. Paul, Marion and Barnes were all assessed technical fouls. "I just think its been a heated battle," Barnes said. "They had us down in the fourth three times, and theyre playing for the playoffs." Clippers coach Doc Rivers noted his team responded after Wednesday nights last-minute loss to the depleted Pelicans. "You could see our guys were fresh," Rivers said. "In a joking way, we should have been fresh because we didnt use a lot (Wednesday) night." The Mavericks are 3-3 on a franchise-record, eight-game homestand, having opened the stretch in seventh place with a 1 1/2-game cushion on ninth-place Phoenix. "Its basically the next game becomes the most important game of the year," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Thats just how it is going to be, every one down the stretch." The Mavericks will then close the season with five road games among their final seven. That includes one more game against the Clippers, at Staples Center on April 3. "We have one more chance," Calderon said. "Hopefully, next week maybe we can beat these guys." NOTES: The Clippers J.J. Redick, out since early February with a back injury, said he hopes to return before the end of the season. . Nowitzki, a 91.8 per cent shooter from the free throw line going into the game, was 6 for 10, equaling his most misses this season. Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Discount Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Throwback Jerseys ' ' '