CASCAR - Vancouver Wrap & Points
CASCAR Super Series July 31, 2002 The points chase tightens following Vancouver Indy LONDON, ON - The CASCAR Super Series' second appearance at the Vancouver Molson Indy, this past Saturday, drastically tightened the point standings, with just three events left on the schedule. Don Thomson Jr., who has led the championship chase for the last several races, suffered engine troubles at the Concord Pacific Place circuit and finished 28th. Thomson's rare misstep opened the door for his main rivals for 2002 championship to move within striking distance as the series heads into the homestretch. Following nine events, the Home Hardware Chevy driver has 1448 points, which is just seven more than Castrol Intrepid driver DJ Kennington, who has 1441. At Vancouver, the St. Thomas, ON racer started ninth and finished eighth, to all but eliminate Thomson's points lead, which had seemed almost insurmountable prior to starting the annual two-race western Canadian swing. But fortunes change and Thomson's Teflon image lost a bit of its lustre in western Canada. Three-time National champion Dave Whitlock is also very much in the hunt, in his Fast Lane Taurus. Sitting in third-place, with 1377 points, the Petrolia, ON racer is looking ahead to the rest of the events, all of which will be contested on ovals, which are his forte. ROBIN BUCK: On the Wednesday afternoon, following Round #9 in Vancouver, CASCAR Super Series Director of Operations Brian Thomas issued the following statement regarding race winner Robin Buck. "During routine post race technical inspection it was found that the engine in the #15 did not comply with the CASCAR rulebook in regards to the camshaft section. The resulting penalty is forfeiture of prize money and points for that event." COMING UP: Following the Calgary and Vancouver CASCAR Super Series [National] events at the end of July, in which many of the CASCAR Western Series drivers participated, the Western series will return to action this weekend with Saturday night's 150 lap event at Quesnel, BC's Gold Pan Speedway. The race is a make-up event for the race that was rained out, earlier in the season. The CASCAR Super Series resumes Sunday, August 11 with a 200-lap afternoon race at Autodrome Montmagny, near Quebec City. The race will be the series' first-ever visit to the Quebec oval. One racer who will be looking to end his season-long winless streak will be two-time National champion Peter Gibbons. The Canadian Tire Chevy driver is still searching for his first feature checkered flag of the 2002 campaign and has always done well racing in Quebec. Following his third-place finish in Vancouver, the Stouffville, ON racer commented, "I've usually won three or four of these things by this point in the season." POINT STANDINGS - CASCAR Super Series - As of July 27, 2002 - After Round #9: 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (Chevrolet / 1448 points); 2. #17 D J Kennington (Intrepid / 1441); 3. #39 Dave Whitlock (Ford / 1377); 4. #35 Kevin Dowler (Ford / 1374); 5. #1 Peter Gibbons (Chevrolet / 1359); 6. #76 Al Turner (Intrepid / 1346); 7. #64 Mark Dilley (Ford / 1338); 8. #02 Kerry Micks (Ford / 1301); 9. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Intrepid / 1299); 10. #9 Robbie Thompson (Intrepid / 1282); 11. #93 Joe Goncalves (Chevrolet / 1264); 12. #99 Pete Vanderwyst (Pontiac / 1253); 13. #22 Scott Steckly (Pontiac / 1252); 14. #33 Neil Fair (Chevrolet / 1250); 15. #3 Bill Rowse Jr. (Chevrolet / 1222); 16. #25 Jim Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 1200); 17. #19 Brad Graham (Pontiac / 117)3; 18. #14 John Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 1170); 19. #0 R Joe Plazek (Chevrolet / 1148); 20. #88 Dave Jacombs (Ford / 1104); 21. #15 Robin Buck (Pontiac / 1070); 22. #24 R Cole Pearn (Pontiac / 1054); 23. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 930); 24. #32 Mike Alguire (Pontiac / 694); 25. #31 Kelly Williams (Pontiac / 606); 26. #2 Carl Harr (Chevrolet / 480); 27. #97 Rob Neely (Intrepid / 472); 28. #41 John Tsoumaris (Chevrolet / 462); 29. #56 Doug Brown (Chevrolet / 456); 30. #82 Steve Munro (Chevrolet / 450); 31. #71 Daryl Harr (Chevrolet / 44)6; 32. #94 Mark Graham (Chevrolet / 408); 32. #43 Bob Merrifield (Intrepid / 380); 34. #96 Jesse Kennedy (Pontiac / 368); 35. #28 Steve Robblee (Ford / 368)