Pirate Galaxy » ddddddIt [Champions Cup rugby] certain

TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. – D.J. Kennington claims he isnt a road racer, but he keeps proving himself wrong. Kennington of St. Thomas, Ont., won the JuliaWine.com 100 in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 action on Sunday at the 44th Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres after holding off road-course specialists Andrew Ranger and Jacques Villeneuve in a harried green-white-checkered finish in front of a crowd in excess of 30,000. After starting eighth, Kennington passed former Formula One and IZOD IndyCar Series champion Villeneuve on Lap 38 before the fifth caution flag of the day flew on Lap 40 to set up the exciting finish. On the final restart, Ranger, who had gotten around Villeneuve just after Kennington made his pass, tried in every turn of the 11-turn, 1.53-mile street circuit to rattle Kennington, but was forced to settle for the runner-up position. "We just had a great race car today," said Kennington. "The crew did a great job at getting cool air to the brakes. At the end, we still had good braking. I saved as much as I could. We got a little lucky that (Villeneuve) slipped up a little and we were able to get by." With three series road-course wins to his credit Kennington has shown the ability to win anywhere at any time, but outdueling the likes of Ranger and Villeneuve had Kennington thinking about the significance. "To beat those two guys on a road course is right up there in my career," said Kennington. "They are two of the best in the world in my estimation. Its really special. With (Ranger) starting in the rear and getting to the front, we might have been in trouble if he started on the pole." Ranger, a four-time Trois-Rivieres winner, started from the rear of the field due to missing Saturdays qualifying session after competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Despite not getting the win, Ranger was pleased with the results. "From where we started, Im really happy with second place," said Ranger – owner of 14 series road-course victories. "The car was pretty used up at the end. I had to fight for everything in passing all those cars. I tried everything to pass (Villeneuve). He raced me totally clean and like a champion. We went through (four) turns side-by-side and we never touched." The final restart gave Ranger one last opportunity at the win. "The cautions at the end really helped me a lot on those last laps I was finally able to get the speed I wanted to in the corners, but (Kennington) didnt make any mistakes," he said. Villeneuve, who led a race-high 29 laps, finished third for his best finish in three career Canadian Tire Series starts. He finished fourth in this event in 2009. "I was taking it easy in the beginning, but I saw a chance to get around (Tagliani) and I took it," said the accomplished driver. "I misjudged a corner while passing a (lapped car) and Kennington was able to get around me. I thought I had a chance at the end to get it back, but (Kennington) clipped the wall and bounced into me which set us back." Villeneuve appreciated the opportunity to compete in the legendary event. "These are fun cars to drive and this is a fun little track," said the former world champion driver and fan favorite. "This event is important to Quebec and Canada. It has provided drivers, including me, the stage to further their careers." It was the first win of the season for Kennington, who set a single-season series record with seven victories a year ago and the 19th career win for the driver of the No. 17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge which tops the series all-time list. Jason Hathaway finished fourth followed by IndyCar Series regular Alex Tagliani in fifth. Tagliani set a new track record in Saturdays qualifying session for his fourth series career pole win. He led the first eight laps of the race before getting tangled up with Louis-Philippe Dumoulin in a battle for the lead. Martin Roy, Alex Labbe, Scott Steckly, Jeff Lapcevich and Trevor Seibert completed the top ten. The race was slowed due to caution five times for 16 laps. The five cautions equaled the series high at the track that was established in the 2007 race. In the championship standings, Steckly saw his lead shrink to just four points over Kennington. Hathaway holds down the third spot, just 14 points behind the leader while Dumoulin dropped from second to fourth, but is still within striking distance at 16 tallies back with just four races remaining. The JuliaWine.com 100 will be telecast on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Black Swell Bottle Nz . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Swell Wood Water Bottle .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. http://www.swellbottlesnz.com/swell-bottle-travelers-nz-sale.html .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Swell 500ml Bottle . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Discount Swell Bottles .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Kurtley Beale admitted to first-day nerves as he joined up with his new Wasps teammates this week, but hopes he can bring an X factor that pushes the club towards European glory.Wallabies utility back Beale is currently nursing a serious knee injury which should delay his Wasps debut until at least November.The 27-year-old has arrived in Coventry, though, as he continues rehab, being housed in the hotel at the clubs Ricoh Arena home as he tries to acclimatise and overcome jet lag.Rocking up and introducing myself to a lot of the players, I was definitely feeling like a new kid going to a new school. I was definitely really nervous, Beale told the clubs official website.The Wasps guys have made it really easy for me to fit right in and settle right in, and I guess youve got a few familiar faces who Ive played against during the international season.Christian Wade, Danny Cipriani, Haskell, theyre all clowns in themselves so they kind of make it easier to fit in and they make it a lot more comfortable for yourself.Beale was convinced to join the club by friend and former Wasps player Ben Jacobs, and he is keen to repay some of the money invested in him.The Australia star hopes he can help hiss new teammates mount a serious challenge in this seasons Champions Cup -- even if the change in weather takes some getting used to.ddddddddddddIt [Champions Cup rugby] certainly was an attraction for me to come up and play amongst some world-class players, and against some class players as well.Its going to be a wonderful opportunity, and obviously the Wasps are considered a huge threat in that competition so for me to come up contribute what I can bring to a rugby team is just exciting.Ive always based my game around X factor, and trying to create opportunities for my teammates around me. Obviously it will be a bit more challenging, bringing a different style of weather that comes into play. But that all comes with the challenge and is something that Im really looking forward to deliver and challenge myself with my teammates.Wasps have been drawn in Pool 2 of the Champions Cup, alongside Toulouse, Connacht and Zebre. They eventually fell to Saracens in last seasons semifinals, having edged Exeter in the quarterfinals with a last-kick conversion at the Ricoh. ' ' '