CASCAR - Cayuga's 'Canada Day Shootout' Preview

CASCAR Super Series

Anticipation builds for Cayuga's 'Canada Day Shootout'

LONDON, ON - Almost six months after the stunning announcement that several 
NASCAR Winston Cup drivers would take part in a mid-season CASCAR Super 
Series points race at Cayuga Speedway, the long wait is almost over.
	This Sunday night (June 30), the legendary Cayuga facility will play host 
to Canada's top stock car drivers, as well as to a half-dozen of NASCAR's 
finest, for a unique 'Twin 50, Plus 100-lap' format race.
Well-known stock car stars Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Johnny Benson, Ken 
Schrader and Dave Blaney will participate in the 'Canada Day Shootout' 
during one of their rare off-weekends from the Winston Cup tour.
	Joining them will be NASCAR Truck Series standout Ted Musgrave, who will 
make his way to Cayuga the day after competing in a Truck Series race at 
The Milwaukee Mile. The former Winston Cup racer currently sits second in 
Truck Series points, just one marker out of first.
	So far in 2002, Kenseth is Winston Cup's winningest driver, with victories 
at 'The Rock', Texas Motor Speedway and Michigan Int'l Speedway. Tony 
Stewart has tasted victory in Atlanta and Richmond. It goes without saying 
that the NASCAR drivers will have to summon all of their talents to compete 
with the CASCAR Super Series 'regulars', all of whom are well accustomed to 
Cayuga Speedway, and more importantly, to the relatively unique Super 
Series Late Models.
	If there is a sub-text to the NASCAR theme of the event, it involves the 
CASCAR Super Series drivers who will be participating in their sixth of 12 
scheduled points races on the 2002 schedule.
In last year's 'battle' at Cayuga, Dave Whitlock drove his Ford Taurus 
underneath the Home Hardware Chevy of current points leader Don Thomson - 
on the last lap - to record his first victory in several Super Series 
seasons. The race, held under the lights at Cayuga, was one of the most 
exciting in CASCAR history.
	When all was said and done, however, Thomson emerged victorious in 'the 
war' and went on to collect his first National championship. And following 
his complete dominance of Race #5 at Mosport, last Saturday night, Thomson 
appears to be the driver to beat this Sunday night at Cayuga.
	"I'm bringing the same car and the same motor [from Mosport]," said 
Thomson, after that race. "I might put some new valve springs in it so that 
it's nice and fresh. Mosport's long straights can be hard on valve springs, 
so we'll do some preventative work there. It deserves new springs."
	Discussing his strategy for the race, Thomson continued, "If you race at 
Cayuga without any caution flags, you can wear out your tires on the 
abrasive surface. A few years ago, I was out of tires on lap 100, so it's 
possible to run out of rubber on Sunday. I'm looking at it as just another 
race in the series. I'm going to stay calm, qualify well, try to lead some 
laps, and do the best we can."
	Dave Whitlock is also confident of his chances for success at Cayuga. The 
Ford Fast Lane Taurus driver's emotional win, last year under the lights at 
Cayuga, was a signal to everyone that the three-time National champion was 
back in top form.
	"We got back on track there last year and we're looking forward to going 
back," said Whitlock, after his second-place run on Saturday at Mosport 
Speedway. "Hopefully, we can keep it near the front. We've really been 
looking forward to Cayuga. That's a huge event for us. We're excited about 
it and we've done some testing there. We'll be in good shape."
	According to reports, the Canada Day Shootout will take place in front of 
almost 20,000 fans, making it one of the biggest stock car events in 
Canadian history.


WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, JUNE 29: Gates open to the public at noon. The visiting NASCAR 
drivers will have their first CASCAR practice at 12:30. The other classes 
on Saturday's schedule are the Thunder Cars, the Canadian Vintage Modifieds 
and the ISMA Supermodifieds. The NASCAR drivers will have a second practice 
session at 2:30. Heat races commence at 7:00 p.m. and the main event of the 
night, the 50-lap ISMA feature, will begin at 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30: Spectator gates open at 10:00 a.m. The CASCAR Super Series 
'regulars' will take to the track for their first practice at 11:00. The 
NASCAR drivers' half-hour practice is scheduled for noon, and will be 
immediately followed by another 'Open' practice for the Super Series 
drivers. Time trials will commence at 3:15. An ISMA Supermodified 
exhibition race takes place at 6:05, leading up to the NASCAR driver 
introductions at 6:45. The NASCAR racers will participate in a Charity 
Shootout at 7:00. The NAPA Auto Parts Twin 50 Qualifiers take the green 
flag at 7:30, and the CANADA DAY SHOOTOUT (100 laps) is slated to start at 
9:15 p.m.

CASCAR NOTES: Although he may not be one of the pre-race favourites for 
victory on Sunday night at Cayuga Speedway, current Rookie points leader 
Joe Plazek is happy with the way his inaugural asphalt racing campaign is 
progressing. Following his impressive seventh-place run at Mosport, the 
former DIRT racer was justifiably proud of the progress he's shown, since 
his CASCAR debut, in May at Delaware. Asked if he is enjoying competing in 
CASCAR, he smiled, "It's getting better. I wasn't for a while... but it's 
getting better." Two consecutive top-10 results would put a smile on anyone 
rookie's face.