TACH Speed Channel - CASCAR - Montmagny Preview
LONDON, ON - Returning to action after a week off, the CASCAR Super Series will make its second of two appearances in Quebec, this season, when it visits Autodrome Montmagny for Sunday afternoon's Snap On Tools 200. This will be the first time in Super Series history that the tour has raced at the 1/3-mile, semi-banked oval, which is located just east of Quebec City. In a 'limited track time' situation, similar to the Indy street circuit events that the teams are so familiar with, an 'Open Practice' on Saturday afternoon will be the first time that the vast majority of the teams will have seen the Montmagny facility. To be successful this weekend, the drivers will have to arrive at the track on Saturday with a gameplan in place for the 200-lap race. After that, it will be a furious thrash throughout the afternoon practice session to learn the nuances of the track and settle upon a winning setup for Sunday's main event. Last year, the CASCAR Super Series made its first-ever visit to Kawartha Speedway, for a race that was won by current Super Series champion Don Thomson Jr. The Home Hardware Chevy driver will be relying on his talent for getting up to speed quickly at a new facility when he takes to the track at Autodrome Montmagny. Thomson's chances for repeating as National champion took a bit of a hit during the western Canadian swing. A 10th-place finish at Calgary's Race City Speedway, coupled with a 28th-place finish at the Vancouver Indy, virtually eliminated his once overwhelming points lead over DJ Kennington (Castrol Intrepid). With just three race weekends remaining on the schedule, Thomson holds a slight, seven-point lead over the St. Thomas, ON racer. Lurking just behind them are Ford drivers Dave Whitlock and Kevin Dowler. Whitlock (Fast Lane Taurus) is a three-time National champion and is in his best position in several seasons to collect 'number four'. And with two wins to his credit this season, Dowler (Quality Care Taurus) is hoping to earn a third checkered flag, one that was ripped from his grasp in the late laps of the Vancouver Indy event. SNAP ON TOOLS 200 - AUTODROME MONTMAGNY - WEEKEND SCHEDULE: SATURDAY AUGUST 10, 2002 Open Practice (CASCAR and Local Classes) 4:00 p.m. until dusk SUNDAY AUGUST 11, 2002 CASCAR Super Series Time Trials 1:00 p.m. Amateur Heats 1:45 p.m. Super Sportsman Heats 2:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Driver Introductions 2:15 p.m. CASCAR SUPER SERIES SNAP ON TOOLS 200 2:30 p.m. Intermission... to be followed by the home-track features. CASCAR ON SPORTSNET: The 'Exide presents the Mosport 250' oval race at Mosport Speedway will having its initial airings on Sportsnet, this coming Monday night (August 12) at: East @ 8 p.m., Ontario @ 9 p.m., West @ 7 p.m. and Pacific @ 5 p.m. CASCAR NOTES: Following the recent western Canadian Super Series swing, Whitlock Motorsports announced that longtime team member Jeff Wilcox, who most recently served as crew chief on Mark Dilley's #64 Taurus, had been released by the team. In a press release announcing the move, Whitlock cited "irreconcilable differences". Replacing Wilcox will be Stouffville, ON resident Giulio Montanari, who spent six seasons gaining experience while working for Winston Cup and ASA teams... Blue Streak Racing announced that its annual fundraising efforts while in Calgary for the Mopar Parts 500 Race Weekend set a new record, once again. In all, over $19,000 was collected - through a variety of events - all of which will go to the 'Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation' for spinal cord injury research.