CASCAR: Delaware Great Canadian Race Preview
CASCAR Super Series Preview: Delaware Speedway / Great Canadian Race Weekend September 1, 2004 Super Series title chase tight at the top as CASCAR returns to Delaware for the Great Canadian Race LONDON, ON - Two races into the current CASCAR Super Series season, Don Thomson's prospects for winning a fourth consecutive National championship didn't look great. Peter Gibbons had rocketed out of the gate with a pair of wins - at Delaware and Cayuga - and Thomson found himself 60 points in the hole, chasing a rival who has a reputation for late-season domination. And although championships can be lost in two races, they are won over the course of the entire season. Heading into this weekend's 'APC/CANUSA Great Canadian Race' at Delaware Speedway - the next-to-last event on the '04 Super Series schedule - Thomson has erased his early-season deficit and now enjoys a 22-point lead over Gibbons thanks to his back-to-back wins in the last two races. The Great Canadian Race is one of the biggest stock car events on the country's motorsports calendar. With a long history of producing great races and settling championships, the Labour Day weekend event at Delaware holds a special place in the hearts of racers, teams and fans. The pieces are in place for this year's race to add to the legend of this storied event. Aside from the Thomson vs. Gibbons battle atop the points chase, three-time National champ Dave Whitlock will be doing everything he can to get himself back into position to win a fourth crown, at the Kawartha finale, two weeks down the road. A tough outing at Peterborough on Saturday night dimmed the Avenue / NMT Dodge driver's title hopes, somewhat, but the Great Canadian Race could provide the opening Whitlock needs to get back in the hunt. For example, in recent years, Thomson lost a wheel in the 300-lap event, while Gibbons - who won his fourth Great Canadian Race last year - lost his motor in the 2000 edition, yet still managed to clinch his second National championship. While The Great Canadian Race Weekend is a three-day racing extravaganza (Friday to Sunday), the CASCAR portion of the weekend will see qualifying take place late Saturday afternoon, leading up to the start of the APC/CANUSA Great Canadian Race on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (see full schedule on next page). PENALTIES: During post-race technical inspection following Saturday night's Power Water 200 at Peterborough Speedway, the #02 car of Kerry Micks was determined to have raced with a carburetor that had been modified outside of the guidelines allowed by CASCAR. According to CASCAR President Tony Novotny, the infraction was relatively minor, but there are no grey areas allowed in the interpretation of this part of the rulebook. In lieu of the decision, as per the new CASCAR rules pertaining to such infractions, Micks lost his prize winnings for the event and will be scored with a 38th-place points finish. In the past, all points were removed in this instance. Following the decision, Micks falls to fifth in the National point standings. Also on Saturday, at the EMCO Western Series event in Wetaskiwin, AB, post-race technical inspection revealed that the length of the trailing arm on the #30 car of Derek Polack was too great. Polack was scored with a 24th-place finish and lost his prize winnings for the event. EMCO WESTERN SERIES: Former CASCAR EMCO Western Series champion Daryl Harr won the John Deere 200 at Edmonton Int'l Raceway on Saturday night (Aug. 28). The St. Albert, AB resident started fourth on the grid and took the lead from James VanDomselaar with 70 laps remaining. Points leader Kevin Dowler finished second, ahead of VanDomselaar. GREAT CANADIAN RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE FRIDAY, SEPT. 3, 2004 6:00 p.m. Spectator Gates Open 6:00 7:00 p.m. Delaware Division Practice Sessions 8:00 p.m. Racing Begins: Late Models & Trucks SATURDAY, SEPT. 4, 2004 4:00 p.m. Spectator Gates Open 6:00 p.m. CASCAR Time Trials 7:00 p.m. Racing Begins: Modifieds, Street Stocks & King of the Hill SUNDAY, SEPT. 5, 2004 11:00 a.m. Spectator Gates Open 11:15 12:15 p.m. CASCAR Driver Autograph Session 12:35 p.m. Parade Lap 1:30 p.m. Introductions & Anthems 2:00 p.m. START: APC CANUSA GREAT CANADIAN 300 CASCAR SUPER SERIES POINTS AS OF AUG. 28, 2004: 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (Chevrolet / 1725); 2. #1 Peter Gibbons (Chevrolet / 1703); 3. #39 Dave Whitlock (Dodge / 1661); 4. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 1578); 5. #64 Mark Dilley (Dodge / 1556);6. #02 Kerry Micks (Ford / 1530); 7. #22 Scott Steckly (Pontiac / 1506); 8. #17 DJ Kennington (Dodge / 1483); 9. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Dodge / 1464); 10. #50 R Pete Shepherd (Dodge / 1417); 11. #19 Brad Graham (Pontiac / 1408); 12. #84 R J.R. Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 1384); 13. #55 R Rob Graham (Chevrolet / 1337); 14. #25 Jim Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 1328); 15. #88 Dave Jacombs (Ford / 1288); 16. #10 Doug Brown (Chevrolet / 964); 17. #42 Sean Stafford (Chevrolet / 910); 18. #86 Kenny Forth (Ford / 888); 19. #11 R Ron VanEs (Chevrolet / 862); 20. #3 Mark Swain (Dodge / 702); 21. #32 Mike Alguire (Pontiac / 688); 22. #71 Bryan Cathcart (Chevrolet / 620); 23. #3 Stu Robinson (Dodge / 608); 24. #81 Shawn McGlynn (Ford / 532); 25. #82 Ted McIntyre (Dodge / 454) CASCAR EMCO WESTERN SERIES POINTS AS OF AUG. 28, 2004: 1. #35 Kevin Dowler (Ford / 972 points); 2. #12 Ron Larson (Chevrolet / 912); 3. #09 Trevor Seibert (Ford / 877); 4. #14 James VanDomselaar (Chevrolet / 875); 5. #26 Shaun Polack (Chevrolet / 852); 6. #6 Todd Nichol (Chevrolet / 850); 7. #30 Derek Polack (Chevrolet / 843); 8. #22 Bill Dawson (Pontiac / 658); 9. #87 James Ward (Ford / 543); 10. #71 Daryl Harr (Chevrolet / 463); 11. #2 Carl Harr (Chevrolet / 425); 12. #38 Jim White (Chevrolet / 403); 12. #31 Sean Maltman (Chevrolet / 388); 14. #34 Darren Turner (Chevrolet/ 300); 15. #95 Paul Savoie (Dodge / 280) CASCAR ON TV: The Mosport Speedway 200 will air on SPORTSNET on Monday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html. CONDOLENCES TO A FRIEND OF CASCAR: The CASCAR family would like to extend its condolences to CARQUEST's Motorsports & Marketing Manager Bob Barron on the passing of his mother, Patricia, earlier this week in her hometown of Brantford, Ontario. For many years, Bob Barron who works for CARQUEST in Raleigh, NC has been a strong supporter of CASCAR and a friend of almost everyone involved in Canadian motorsports. CASCAR also offers its best wishes to Bob's brother Paul Barron, and their sisters Louise McColeman and Donna Riddiough during their time of loss. Those wishing to offer their condolences can reach Bob at: Bob Barron; CARQUEST Corporation Motorsports & Marketing Manager; 2635 E Millbrook Rd.; Raleigh, NC 27604. Ph: (919) 573-2518 // Fax (919) 573-2501 or via e-mail at: bob.barron@gpi.com