CASCAR - MOPAR 250 - Qualifying & Grid
CASCAR Super Series QUALIFYING: MOPAR 250 Delaware Speedway May 22, 2004 Don Thomson Jr. wins the pole for Sunday’s MOPAR 250 CASCAR Super Series opener LONDON, ON Three-time and defending CASCAR Super Series champion Don Thomson Jr. signaled his intention to collect a fourth National title on Saturday evening at Delaware Speedway. The Home Hardware Chevy driver was the fastest of 38 drivers who participated in time trials for the season-opening MOPAR 250 at the half-mile London-area oval. Thomson circled the track in 19.682 seconds for a speed of 91.454 mph. Defending race winner Dave Whitlock held the provisional pole for a while, but was knocked to the outside of the front row by Thomson. Whitlock’s Avenue / NMT Dodge lapped the Delaware oval in 19.740 secs. (91.185 mph). Thomson’s pole effort was all the more impressive considering Saturday was the first time he’s had his new ‘oval’ car on track. With only 20 laps of practice, Thomson and his team thrashed to settle on a competitive setup. “When we got here, we struggled big,” said Thomson of his brief practice outings. “We made so many adjustments, it wasn’t funny… so many I couldn’t tell you.” Perennial Super Series front-runner DJ Kennington will start third on Sunday in his Castrol Dodge, alongside the top starting rookie in the field, Rob Graham of Bothwell, ON. CUTLINE: Don Thomson earned the pole for Sunday's MOPAR 250 at Delaware Speedway. CREDIT: G. MacPherson / Inside Track Motorsport News. CASCAR NOTEBOOK: Ontario Pro Challenge Series racer Dennis Thomson the brother of three-time champ Don Thomson Jr. qualified the #23 Tim Horton’s Chevy on behalf of regular driver Jeff Lapcevich, who is competing in a road course race in Quebec… Super Series rookie Rob Graham posted the quickest time during practice for the MOPAR Parts 250. The former CARQUEST Series driver will start fourth in Sunday’s feature race…Super Series rookie J.R. Fitzpatrick is the son of veteran racer John Fitzpatrick. They have a bet riding on the outcome of the MOPAR 250. The one who finishes better than the other in Sunday’s feature race will have the second Fitzpatrick Motorsports ride for the entire Super Series season. The ‘loser’ will participate in only select events. The youngster qualified 14th fastest for the MOPAR 250, while his John will line up 25th… SUNDAY SCHEDULE: SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2004 11:00 a.m. Spectator Gates Open 11:15 noon 12:15 p.m. Autograph Session 12:35 p.m. Parade Lap 1:30 p.m. Welcomes: Delaware Management, CASCAR Management, MOPAR Representatives, Driver Introductions, Invocation, National Anthems 2:00 p.m. START: MOPAR 250 (250 LAPS) CASCAR Super Series STARTING GRID: MOPAR 250 Round #1 // May 23, 2003 // Delaware Speedway London, ON // 250 Laps // 1/2-mile, high-banked oval FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR / MAKE TIME 1 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19.682 2 39 Dave Whitlock (Wyoming, ON) Avenue / NMT Dodge 19.740 3 17 D.J. Kennington (St. Thomas, ON) Castrol Canada Dodge 19.753 4 55 Rob Graham (Bothwell, ON) R G-Dox / Doering Brown Monte Carlo 19.772 5 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) Canadian Tire / Monroe Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19.797 6 64 Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON) NTN Bearings / Global Fasteners Dodge 19.799 7 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON) MOPAR Performance Parts Dodge 19.828 8 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON) ERB Group Pontiac Grand Prix 19.832 9 13 Rob Starr (London, ON) R Remax / Kendall Dodge 19.891 10 10 Doug Brown (Brantford, ON) NAPA / Autopro Pontiac Grand Prix 19.891 11 23 Dennis Thomson (Hamilton, ON) Tim Horton’s / Fastline Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19.895 12 7 Sean Dupuis (LaSalle, ON) Marty’s Garage Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19.900 13 88 Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope, ON) Lou’s BBQ Co. / FAG Ford Taurus 19.916 14 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) R Latta Crane Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19.917 15 33 Neil Fair (Ancaster, ON) Fairway Transport Dodge 19.918 16 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON) Ford Taurus 19.934 17 82 Ted McIntyre (Windsor, ON) Pro Air Brush Dodge 19.944 18 50 Pete Shepherd (Brampton, ON) ATTO Dodge 19.993 19 19 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON) Challenger Motor Frt. Pontiac Grand Prix 20.030 20 42 Sean Stafford (Springfield, ON) Mid-America Freight Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.042 21 77 Pete Vanderwyst (St. Thomas, ON) Pontiac Grand Prix 20.051 22 76 Jason Hathaway (Appin, ON) R Fordham Motors Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.061 23 25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton, ON) Retrocom Growth Fund / Fastline Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.083 24 11 Ron VanEs (Smithville, ON) R Star Van Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.115 25 14 John Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.161 (PROV.) 26 86 Kenny Forth (Lynden, ON) Parkinson Tours / 820 CHAM Ford Taurus 20.257 (PROV.) 27 32 Mike Alguire (London, ON) A-Dor Construction Pontiac Grand Prix 20.198 28 81 Shawn McGlynn (Kitchener, ON) Ford Taurus 20.251 29 03 Jessie Kennedy (Southwold, ON) Pontiac Grand Prix 20.316 30 52 Ron Sheridan (Strathroy, ON Restoration Masters Pontiac Grand Prix 20.324 31 3 Mark Swain (Stouffville, ON) R Snap-On Tools / General Electric Dodge 20.443 32 09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON) R Pontiac Grand Prix 20.484 33 28 Steve Robblee (Dorchester, ON) Grogan / CGC Ford Taurus 20.580 34 43 Bob Merrifield (Belle River, ON) Team Remax Preferred Mortgage Dodge 20.748 35 66 Josh Wood (London, ON) EMC Pontiac Grand Prix 20.821 36 44 Marv Wilder (Toronto, ON) Longbow Freight Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.827 37 46 Kevin Trevellin (LaSalle, ON) JD Pranksters Ford Taurus 20.931 38 91 Doug Day (Kitchener, ON) Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20.977 R after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.