Ford Quality Care - Apollo - Mosport Road Course Report

Ford Quality Care / Apollo Motorsports

For immediate release / June 18, 2002

Dowler wins wet one at Mosport
Ford Quality Care Taurus racer vaults to fifth in the points after road 
course victory

MOSPORT, ON - Almost two years since his last CASCAR Super Series win, on 
the streets of Toronto, Kevin Dowler returned to victory lane on Sunday 
afternoon, at Mosport Int'l Raceway. The Ford Quality Care Ford Taurus 
driver relied on a combination of skill and good fortune to emerge 
victorious in one of the strangest stock car races in Canadian history.
	The Edmonton, Alberta racer drove from 16th to first - in the pouring rain 
- to win the race, which was cut in half to 32 laps. Having stopped for 
hand-grooved 'rain' tires earlier in the race, Dowler found himself at the 
back of the pack through much of the event, which was halted several times 
by inclement weather.
	Following his fifth CASCAR outing at Mosport, Dowler was relieved to 
finally win a Super Series race on the classic road course. "It's been a 
tough deal. We've worked so hard. To finally get rewarded with a win... at 
this point, we'll take 'em however we can get 'em. This is the start of 
good things."
	After making the switch to grooved tires, Dowler was content to bide his 
time. But when it was clear that the impending time limit would drastically 
reduce the number of laps, Dowler and his team decided that it was time to 
move.
	"I was just trying to be safe out there, but then, Billy [Burns, crew 
chief] got on the radio to me and said, 'If you wreck it, we can fix it.' 
So, I just drove it."
	Over the next few laps, Dowler came through the pack like a rocket, easily 
passing several 'slick'-shod cars as the rain intensified. Running second 
on lap 29, Dowler decided to make his move on race leader, Peter Gibbons. 
Coming side-by-side through turn 10, Dowler got the jump on the inside 
lane. As the pair drag raced down the front-straight, Gibbons hit standing 
water and his car darted into the inside retaining wall. From there, the 
caution flag was displayed and Dowler went on to take the yellow and 
checkered flags, after 32 laps.
	"It was a tough deal for Pete [Gibbons], but he couldn't get it out there. 
He was on slicks and he wasn't there anymore at the end. I had it in high 
gear [coming out of turn 10 on the inside of Gibbons], came over the curb 
on the inside, held the car down [on the inside] and he just lost it."
	Coming across the line behind Dowler were Don Thomson Jr. and Dave 
Jacombs. Following four events, Dowler's Ford Quality Care Ford Taurus sits 
fifth in the championship points chase, which is topped by co-leaders DJ 
Kennington and Mark Dilley.
	Putting the race into perspective, Dowler has now won CASCAR Super Series 
road course events at the Molson Indy Toronto, the Edmonton City Centre 
Airport and Mosport Int'l Raceway. He will be gunning for the 'grand slam' 
late in July at the Molson Indy Vancouver.
	"This is going to help my life, a lot," smiled Dowler, after the race.

NEXT RACE: The fifth CASCAR Super Series race of the season will take place 
this Saturday night (June 22) at the Mosport Speedway oval. The half-mile 
facility features tight corners and long straights.

Prepared by Inside Track Communications (416) 962-7223.