CASCAR: Whitlock wins Cayuga thriller
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 12, 2001NELLES CORNERS, ON - On Saturday night at Cayuga Speedway, three-time Castrol Super Series champion Dave Whitlock ended a winless streak that lasted almost four years. The Motorcraft Ford Taurus driver overcame a spin with 90 laps to go in the Mac Tools 250, and after clawing his way back through the pack, executed an incredible last-lap pass on Don Thomson to become the eighth winner in nine Castrol Super Series races this season.
Although his second-place result was enough to boost his series points lead, Thomson was somewhat frustrated to see a probable victory slip away, on the final lap, for the second consecutive weekend. The Home Hardware Chevy driver suffered a clutch failure the previous Saturday at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.
The final podium position at Cayuga went to the other Whitlock Motorsports team driver, Mark Dilley. The Barrie, ON racer lined up fifth in the field of 32 who competed in CASCAR's first night race at Cayuga in many years and ran a steady race en route to the third-place finish.
RACE NOTES: Ron Beauchamp Jr. captured the pole for the Mac Tools 250 with a time of 21.410 seconds around the 5/8-mile Cayuga Speedway. The Mopar Performance Parts Intrepid driver's time translated into a speed of 105.01 mph... The Mac Tools 250 was stopped by a red flag that was brought on by a scary fire inside the car of driver Brad Graham. The Glencoe, ON racer's fuel tank ruptured and quickly enveloped the entire car in flames. Fire crews quickly doused the inferno while the Challenger Monte Carlo driver was able to quickly extricate himself from the burning wreck... Rookie Kevin O'Hara of Hamilton, ON held off Castrol Super Series veteran Rob Neely to win the 25-lap 'Final Qualifiers' race... The next Castrol Super Series race takes place in two weeks at Calgary's Race City Speedway. The event is part of a two-race western swing that will conclude on Labour Day weekend with the series' first ever appearance at the Vancouver Molson Indy... The 'Budweiser 150' Castrol Super Series race, held July 1 at Kawartha Speedway, will be broadcast Tuesday, Aug. 14 on Sportsnet. The track's inaugural CASCAR race will air at 8:00 p.m. on Sportsnet EAST, ONTARIO and WEST. The PACIFIC region will see the show at 7:00 p.m.
Text provided by CASCAR
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