CASCAR - Calgary Mopar 500 Race Weekend Preview
CASCAR Super Series CALGARY, AB - The 'Mopar Parts 500 Race Weekend' is one of the longest-running and most popular events on the annual CASCAR Super Series schedule. The first of two races to be held in western Canada, on consecutive weekends, the three-day racing extravaganza kicks off Friday evening at Calgary's Race City Speedway. Following time trials to lock in the front row for Sunday afternoon's Mopar Parts 300, the 100-lap qualifying sprint races will take place. The 'Final Qualifiers' race, to set the remainder of the starting field, is scheduled for Saturday evening at the high-banked, half-mile oval. Heading into the ninth round of the 2002 CASCAR Super Series, points leader Don Thomson is doing everything that's required of him in his quest for a second consecutive National championship. With a win and a string of top finishes to his credit in the first eight events, the Home Hardware Chevy driver is the rabbit that the rest of the field is chasing as the tour heads into the final third of the schedule. LAST YEAR: Dave Whitlock is the defending winner of the Mopar Parts 300. His win in last year's race was his second in as many races, coming on the heels of his emotional victory at Cayuga. In both events (Cayuga and Calgary), the Ford driver made a late-race pass on Don Thomson, who went on to finish second... The 2001 edition of the Race City Speedway CASCAR Super Series event was also noteworthy because of the stunning pole-winning effort by rookie CASCAR competitor Robbie Thompson... Kerry Micks and Peter Gibbons won the 100-lap qualifying sprint races in '01, while Mopar Intrepid driver Ron Beauchamp Jr. earned the checkered flag in the 25-lap 'Final Qualifiers' race. CASCAR NOTES: As always, the Mopar Parts 500 Race Weekend schedule includes more than just on-track activities at Race City Speedway. On Thursday (from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.), the annual Kubota Pit Stop Competition will be held in downtown Calgary's Eau Claire Market. Also on Thursday (starting at 5 p.m.), the 'Castrol Charity Challenge, presented by Blue Streak and Race City Motorsport Park' will be held at Schanks Athletic Club. FAIR MAKES A CHANGE: Popular CASCAR veteran Neil Fair will debut his new Skoal Inc. Intrepid this weekend at Race City Speedway. Fair, who currently sits 14th in the point standings, credits several factors for his decision to switch away from the Chevrolets the team has campaigned in recent seasons. Increased performance, and the support DaimlerChrysler demonstrates for its teams, were just two. "We needed to get something new into our program, and the Intrepid seems to make great torque and horsepower," said Fair, in a press release issued by the team. "Plus, the added dollars that are paid out after the race, by MOPAR, helped in our decision. I think this will be a good move for our team. We're looking forward to Calgary. And since it is a Mopar event, what better place to unveil the new car..." POINT STANDINGS: CASCAR Super Series: as of July 6, 2002 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (Chevrolet / 1084); 2. #17 D J Kennington (Intrepid / 1021); 3. #39 Dave Whitlock (Ford / 959); 4. #64 Mark Dilley (Ford / 950); 5. #35 Kevin Dowler (Ford / 949); 6. #76 Al Turner (Intrepid / 902); 7. #9 Robbie Thompson (Intrepid / 901); 8. #99 Pete Vanderwyst (Pontiac / 900); 9. #93 Joe Goncalves (Chevrolet / 898); 10. #1 Peter Gibbons (Chevrolet / 885); 11. #02 Kerry Micks (Ford / 871); 12. #22 Scott Steckly (Pontiac / 868); 13. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Intrepid / 856); 14. #33 Neil Fair (Chevrolet / 850); 15. #3 Bill Rowse Jr. (Chevrolet / 822); 16. #19 Brad Graham (Pontiac / 817); 17. #14 John Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 812); 18. #15 Robin Buck (Pontiac / 809); 19. #0 R Joe Plazek (Chevrolet / 770); 20. #88 Dave Jacombs (Ford / 756); 21. #24 R Cole Pearn (Pontiac / 754); 22. #25 Jim Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 732); 23. #32 Mike Alguire (Pontiac / 694); 24. #31 Kelly Williams (Pontiac / 606); 25. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 600); 26. #97 Rob Neely (Intrepid / 472); 27. #41 John Tsoumaris (Chevrolet / 462); 28. #56 Doug Brown (Chevrolet / 456); 29. #82 Steve Munro (Chevrolet / 450); 30. #94 Mark Graham (Chevrolet / 408) CASCAR Western Series: as of June 29, 2002 1. #71 Daryl Harr (Chevrolet / 817); 2. #2 Carl Harr (Chevrolet / 760); 3. #21 Wade Lee (Ford / 750); 4. #12 Ron Larson (Chevrolet / 743); 5. #38 Shane Charlton (Chevrolet / 717); 6. #89 R Terry Dowler (Chevrolet / 683); 7. #15 Mike Browne (Pontiac / 656); 8. #81 R James Ward (Ford / 655); 9. #14 James VanDomselaar (Pontiac / 642); 10. #33 Don Sales (Pontiac / 636); 11. #50 Wheeler Boys (Intrepid / 575); 12. #27 Anthony Pallister (Chevrolet / 525); 13. #93 Charlie Kirton (Chevrolet / 402); 14. #6 Todd Nichol (Chevrolet / 392); 15. #28 Darin Gillet (Pontiac / 365); 16. #64 R Chris Shirley (Chevrolet / 172); 17. #47 R Craig Matlock (Chevrolet / 144); 18. #45 Glen Swedberg (N/A / 137); 19. #5 R Allan Deibert Avenger 136); 19. #7 James MacFarlane (Ford / 136); 21. #36 Jim White (Chevrolet / 135); 22. #88 Calvin Hoy (Pontiac / 132); 23. #35 Kevin Dowler (Ford / 131); 24. #03 Ray Campbell (Pontiac / 130); 25. #79 R Dwayne Arnott (Chevrolet / 130) CARQUEST Sportsman Series: as of June 29, 2002 1. #28 Steve Robblee (457); 2. #15 Jim Patrick (411); 3. #1 Claude LeClerc (402); 4. #52 Ron Sheridan (401); 5. #18 Andre Coursol (373); 6. #74 Richard Beauchamp (352); 7. #55 Rob Graham (348); 8. #22 Jesse Kennedy (338); 9. #60 Steve Maheux (322); 10. #10 Doug Brown (310); 11. #6 Dan Delisle (302); 11. #05 Daniel Charest (302); 13. #33 R Karl Allard (300); 14. #12 Mark Patrick (299); 15. #38 Martin Goulet (283); 16. #3 Sean Dupuis (281); 17. #77 Dion Verhoeven (280); 18. #20 Scott Lindsay (271); 18. #52 Daniel Belanger (271); 20. #2 Doug Stewart (268); 21. #5 Jay Christie (264); 22. #86 Ken Forth (253); 23. #43 Jay Doerr (252); 24. #18 Chad McGlynn (247); 25. #7 Jerry Marinuk (245); 26. #67 Scott Mitchell (240); 27. #35 Mark Hickson (233); 28. #11 Stephane Messier (230); 29. #12 R Danny Foley (206); 30. #66 Alain Perron (199) MOPAR PARTS 500 RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY JULY 19, 2002 Time Trials: 6:00 p.m. 100-Lap Qualifying Sprint Races Racing: 7:00 p.m. SATURDAY JULY 20, 2002 Final Qualifiers' Race Racing: 7:00 p.m. SUNDAY JULY 21, 2002 CASCAR Driver Autograph Session: 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Driver Introductions: 12:30 p.m. GREEN FLAG: MOPAR PARTS 300: 1:00 p.m.