CASCAR: Thomson wins second of season
4 July 2000
Defending CASCAR East champ adds to points lead in Chicoutimi / Round #6 CHICOUTIMI, QC Just two weeks after picking up his first CASCAR Castrol Super Series East checkered flag of the season, at Mosport Int’l Speedway, reigning Eastern champion Don Thomson Jr. proved he’s serious about repeating as champion, by taking another victory in dominant fashion; this time in CASCAR’s inaugural visit to Autodrome Chicoutimi, north of Quebec City. The Hamilton, ON racer started on the pole in Monday’s AutoPro 150, at the 1/3-mile oval, and led all but three of the 150 laps, in his Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo, en route to the checkered flag. Finishing second to Thomson, in the race that was delayed by a day due to persistent rains on Sunday, was Speedy Auto Service Ford Taurus driver Dave Jacombs. The Mt. Hope, ON racer is currently enjoying his best ever season on the CASCAR Tour and his runner-up finish was a career best. Rounding out the podium finishers in Chicoutimi was three-time National champion Dave Whitlock, in his Ford Quality Care Taurus. Whitlock hails from Petrolia, ON. The race was slowed seven times for caution periods, which accounted for 55 of the race’s 150 laps. Race Notes: During heat race action at Autodrome Chicoutimi, veteran racer Kerry Micks picked up his 29th career qualifying race checkered flag, while rookie driver Jason McLellan captured his first. Al Turner, who won last weekend in Fredericton, NB, won the ‘Fast Qualifers’ heat in Chicoutimi. Don Thomson’s pole-winning time was 16.166 seconds on the track which resembles Montreal’s Autodrome St-Eustache. After six events, a pair of drivers have taken the lion’s share of victories on the Eastern circuit in 2000. Al Turner has gathered three feature wins, while Don Thomson has picked up a pair. Kerry’s Micks’ win at Autodrome St-Eustache on June 10 stands out as the only exception to the dominance of Turner and Thomson. Next Race: The CASCAR Castrol Super Series East takes a week off in preparation for the July 14-16 Toronto Molson Indy. The second annual “Exide ’99 Street Fight” takes place Saturday, July 15 and will be televised live on CTV Sportsnet, marking the first time that a CASCAR race has been broadcast as it happens on national television. Turning to the CASCAR Castrol Super Series West, this weekend, the tour makes its first visit of the season to British Columbia for the July 8 Gold Pan 150 at Quesnel’s Gold Pan Speedway. by Inside Track Communications.