News

Team Rebounds from Early Accident in Race Heavy with Attrition

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2018) – Gaunt Brothers Racing (GBR) and D.J. Kennington recovered from an early accident to finish 24th in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Just after the first quarter of the race, Kennington was involved in a three-car accident in which his Lordco/Castrol Toyota Camry sustained damage to its left front and left side. The GBR pit crew provided patchwork repair, though the quick fix didn’t ameliorate the damage’s effect on aerodynamic balance.

Fortunately, attrition was high during The Great American Race, as three more multi-car accidents throughout the day worked in the team’s favor. Kennington completed 201 out of 207 laps—the 500-mile event was extended due to a late-race accident—to finish 24th among the 40-car field.

“We finished 24th in our second Daytona 500. It’s a testament to all the guys on the Lordco/Castrol Toyota Camry crew,” said GBR owner Marty Gaunt. “We were caught in a wreck early in the race and were able to repair the car. A lot of cars that got wrecked were out for the duration and never got to complete all 500 miles. To finish 24th is a good day. Now we can go home, rebuild and get ready for our next speedway event.”

Prior to the accident, Kennington, who became just the sixth Canadian to make multiple Daytona 500 starts, was happy with the handling condition of his Toyota Camry, a focus of the team following Thursday’s qualifying race.

“We had a decent car. We could’ve raced with them, I think,” said Kennington. “But we’ll take it and run with it. We almost went the distance.”

About Gaunt Brothers Racing: Gaunt Brothers Racing, owned by Ontario, Canada native Marty Gaunt, operates out of Mooresville, N.C. The Toyota team competes in select Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, where they secured a starting spot in the Daytona 500 in 2017, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. GBR previously fielded teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Pinty’s Series, for drivers Alex Bowman and Jason Bowles and Canadian racers John Gaunt and D.J. Kennington, recording a victory in the Toyota All-Star Showdown and a track record qualifying time on the Toronto street course.

For more information, please visit gauntbrothersracing.com.

About Lordco: Lordco Parts Ltd. is the largest independent distributor and retailer of automotive parts and accessories in British Columbia. Lordco incorporated in 1974 and has since covered most of the province with their 100-plus locations, which include wholesale and retail stores, warehouses and machine shops. Lordco prides itself on providing fast, reliable service to their customers. With 11 product divisions, which include Automotive, Chemicals, Engine Parts, Equipment, High Performance, Import, Paint & Body, RV/Marine, Tool, Truck Accessories and Welding, Lordco has you covered.

Follow @lordcoparts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest product and make sure to visit us online at lordco.com.

About Castrol: With well over 100 years of experience and 13 R&D centers worldwide, Castrol is a global technology leader.

Castrol is more than oil; it’s liquid engineering, which provides lubricants and support for passionate race teams and consumers. As the number-one brand in Canada, Castrol Edge Synthetic dominates the market providing performance and strength for your engine.

Today, Castrol operates in over 60 countries. In Canada, Castrol lubricants are marketed, manufactured and distributed by Wakefield Canada, a privately owned, entrepreneurial company focused on Automotive, Heavy Duty and Industrial lubricants.

For more information please visit castrol.ca