CASCAR - Barrie Preview

CASCAR Super Series season set to kick off this weekend at Barrie Speedway 
with the GO-RACING.CA 300

TORONTO, ON – The CASCAR Super Series opens its 2006 season this weekend at 
Barrie Speedway with the GO-RACING.CA 300. Sunday night’s 250-lap Super 
Series feature race will be the highlight of a busy weekend of racing 
action at the 1/3-mile tri-oval, which will also include a pair of 50-lap 
Super Series qualifying sprint races on Saturday evening, as well as all of 
Barrie’ regular weekend divisions.

As has been the case for the previous five CASCAR Super Series seasons, the 
talk heading into the season opener will centre on the ability of any of 
the contenders to unseat Don Thomson Jr. from the top of the point 
standings. The Chevy driver has won the last five consecutive CASCAR Super 
Series National titles, and appears to be as determined as ever to keep the 
string alive in ’06.

Living by the old adage, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ Don Thomson 
discussed his strategy for defending his championship. “I know it’s boring, 
but I’m not looking to do a lot different. We go to every race and try to 
get the car fast, qualify well, and save our car for the end of the race.”

The only real difference with this year’s season opener, as opposed to 
others in recent years, is that it will be taking place at a physical short 
track. Barrie has a reputation for tough wheel-to-wheel action, and Thomson 
believes he’s ready for whatever happens.

“We’ve made some changes to address the situation of being at Barrie,” 
Thomson continued. “We mounted two bodies on the car – one we call the 
‘Barrie body’ – and another set of spares, in case we run into trouble. If 
something was to happen to the bumper assemblies or the body panels, I have 
spares ready to go.”

All of Thomson’s main rivals from recent years will be returning to take 
another shot at the Home Hardware Chevy driver, including last year’s 
points runner-up Peter Gibbons, DJ Kennington, Dave Whitlock, Brad Graham, 
Ron Beauchamp, Kerry Micks and Mark Dilley.

Pole qualifying for the GO-RACING.CA 300 takes place on Saturday afternoon 
(May 20) at 4:30 p.m. The first of two Twin 50 Qualifying Sprint Races is 
slated to commence at 8:45 p.m. and will set the grid for Sunday’s feature 
event. Spectator gates open at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday (May 21) in advance of a 
full slate of Barrie Speedway’s regular home divisions. Following those 
features, the CASCAR drivers take to the track at 7 p.m. – with pens in 
hand – for the autograph session. The 2006 Super Series season will get 
underway officially at 8:30 p.m. when the green flag flies to start the 
250-lap main event, the GO-RACING.CA 300.

BARRIE NOTEBOOK
Barrie, Ontario racer Mark Dilley won last year’s CASCAR Super Series stop 
at Barrie Speedway, in his Dodge Charger… Another racer who used to call 
Barrie Speedway his ‘hometrack’ is former Super Series champion Kerry 
Micks. The Mt. Albert, ON racer is heading to the opener with sponsorship 
from Two-Tyme Recycling & Disposal on his Ford Taurus. Micks Motorsports is 
looking for a sponsor for the remainder of the season, but Micks is happy 
to have Two-Tyme on his car at Barrie, where he won the pole and finished 
second in 2005… The Twin 50 qualifying sprint races on Saturday night (May 
20) will offer championship points.

CASCAR ON TV:  Catch the GO-RACING.CA 300 CASCAR Super Series season opener 
from Barrie Speedway on June 10 on SPORTSNET. For information regarding 
initial airings and replays of Super Series races, please check your local 
listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

CASCAR WESTERN SERIES NOTES: FLO~PRO.COM Western Series racer Kevin Dowler 
will begin his quest for a record-extending sixth Western Series crown this 
weekend at Sun Valley Motor Speedway, in Vernon, BC. The Edmonton, AB racer 
says this will be his final year of CASCAR competition.
The FLO-PRO.COM Western Series takes the green flag on Saturday night (May 
20) at the half-mile Sun Valley oval. In all, the series will consist of 
eight races, including a pair of Super Series cross-over events, at Sun 
Valley and the Grand Prix of Edmonton Champ Car weekend.

CASCAR SPORTSMAN SERIES: While two of CASCAR’s touring divisions will be in 
action this weekend, the start of the 2006 CASCAR Sportsman Series will 
take place next month on the oval at Mosport Speedway. The season opening 
event, on Saturday, June 17, will be part of the Father’s Day CASCAR 
Doubleheader Weekend at the legendary Mosport facility.

BRIAN WORKMAN: The CASCAR community was saddened to hear of the recent 
passing of longtime team member Brian Workman. For many years, Brian was on 
the crew of Neil Fair’s #55 team. And in 2005, the Ancaster, ON resident 
was a key part of Don Thomson’s successful ‘Drive for Five’ in which the #4 
Home Hardware team earned its fifth-consecutive Super Series National 
Championship. Commenting on the passing of Workman, Thomson said, “Our 
thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends at this difficult time. I was 
fortunate enough to have him on my crew last year and he was a huge part of 
this team’s fifth National Championship. People don’t realize what a funny 
guy he was. When things started to get down and out, we always had Brian to 
keep us in stitches and keep things light. We’re really going to miss him 
at Fitzpatrick Motorsports and I know a lot of people on a bunch of teams 
will miss him. We only had him on our team for a short time, but Neil Fair 
and his guys got to enjoy his company for years. Everyone liked Brian. He 
will be missed.” CASCAR joins Thomson in offering condolences to the family 
and friends of Brian Workman.

SCHEDULE: BARRIE SPEEDWAY (Barrie, Ontario)
CASCAR Super Series // GO-RACING.CA 300
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2006
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.       CASCAR Super Series Practice
4:00 p.m.       Spectator Gates Open
4:30 – 5:15 p.m.        CASCAR Time Trials
8:45 – 9:30 p.m.        CASCAR 50 Lap Qualifying Sprint Race #1
9:40 – 10:25 p.m.       CASCAR 50 Lap Qualifying Sprint Race #2

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2006
3:00 p.m.       Spectator Gates Open
4: 00 – 7:00 p.m.       Home Division Features
6:30 p.m.       CASCAR Pre-Grid
7:00 – 8:00     CASCAR Driver Autograph Session
8:00 p.m.       Driver Introductions
8:30 p.m.       START: GO-RACING.CA 300
10:45 p.m.      Fireworks Display

Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // Contact: Greg MacPherson (416) 
561-2320 (cell).
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