EXIDE / Vanderwyst CASCAR - Peterborough Report

Vanderwyst Motorsports / EXIDE Racing
For immediate release: May 27, 2002

Vanderwyst 17th after cut tire ends hopes for victory

PETERBOROUGH, ON - Pete Vanderwyst's Exide Batteries Pontiac was one of the 
best cars in the field at Peterborough Speedway, on Sunday afternoon. After 
qualifying and the race were rained out, the night before, the CASCAR Super 
Series racers were lined up on Sunday based on their positions in the point 
standings, following the season's first race, at Delaware.
	That placed Vanderwyst - who was second in points - on the outside of the 
front row for the 200-lap marathon at the high-banked, 1/3-mile 
Peterborough oval. For the first 37 laps, Vanderwyst looked strong, running 
second behind polesitter Robbie Thompson. But seconds later, Vanderwyst ran 
through oil and spun, causing him to go to the back of the 29-car pack.
	Passing at Peterborough is particularly difficult, but that's exactly what 
Vanderwyst did. By lap 117, the St. Thomas, ON resident had clawed his way 
back to 10th. With 50 laps to go, the Exide Pontiac was running seventh, 
but that's as high as it would recover.
	Before the race, Vanderwyst discussed what he dreaded most about racing at 
Peterborough; flat tires. And within a few dozen laps of posting his second 
top finish in as many weeks, his worst fears were realized.
	"Same old deal... a flat tire under green," lamented Vanderwyst, after the 
race. "This time, it was the right-front. It picked up a stone and it 
worked its way in and cut 'er down. Last week [at Delaware] we had luck on 
our side, but this week it bit us."
	By the time he returned to action, after stopping for a new tire, 
Vanderwyst had lost two laps on the leaders and soldiered on for a 
17th-place result. Combined with his runner-up finish at Delaware, 
Vanderwyst is a respectable fifth in the CASCAR Super Series points chase, 
after two outings.
	"I really think we had the car to beat today. At least, we had a top five 
in the bag. We just need to put the finishing touches on one of these 
things. You work all week trying to prepare for everything, but things 
happen. Racing is one humbling game, I'll tell you that."
	Describing his early-race adventures, Vanderwyst recalled, "Robbie 
[Thompson] and I were able to pretty much check out on everybody. But then 
somebody broke something and dumped fluid on the track. DJ [Kennington] got 
into the back end of me and threw me around. We ended up at the back of the 
field.
	"We came back through, but when you do that, you're playing with fire. 
When you run up front, there's so much less chance of things happening. You 
just try to stay ahead on the leader. We were doing that and making it 
through traffic OK. The guys did a great job spotting for us and the pit 
calls worked out. But it's a game of luck."
	Looking at the bright side, Vanderwyst admits he's encouraged by the 
performance of his car and team in the first two events, even if the 
Peterborough result was discouraging. "It's not like we're not fast. We've 
got our program to where we know we're a contender again, week in, week 
out. And that's a tribute to all the work the guys did over the winter, 
getting our stuff ready."

NEXT RACE: The Exide Pontiac will be back in action this Saturday night 
(June 1) at Montreal's Autodrome St-Eustache. According to Vanderwyst, the 
flat, 4/10-mile asphalt oval is one of his favourites. He's been quick 
there in the past and is looking forward to coming home with a top finish. 
"I've always done well there. We've won there [Sportsman races] and have 
led a lot of Super Series laps. We've always qualified very well there, 
too. I've been leading that race with 20 laps to go and have had flats. 
Last year, we were running third when the oil cooler line broke."

For more information, contact Pete Vanderwyst at (519) 652-3900, ext. 222 
or visit www.vanderwystmotorsports.com
Prepared by Inside Track Communications