CASCAR Preview: G.P. de Trois-Rivieres
CASCAR Super Series
PREVIEW: G.P. de Trois-Rivières
For more information contact CASCAR’s Toronto office at (416) 531-4714
For immediate release / August 3, 2006
CASCAR heads to Quebec for its second-ever appearance at the Grand Prix de
Trois-Rivières
TORONTO, ON – This weekend, the CASCAR Super Series will head to
Trois-Rivières, Quebec to participate in the 37th edition of the legendary
Grand Prix de Trois- Rivières. The race will mark CASCAR’s second-ever
appearance at the event.
Back in 2001, Don Thomson Jr. saw victory slip from his grasp
on the final lap after leading the first 41 tours around the 10-turn,
temporary street circuit. The Home Hardware Chevy driver’s transmission
gave out with just a few corners to go, handing the lead and the victory to
Canadian Tire Chevy driver Peter Gibbons.
Thomson went on to win his first of five consecutive CASCAR
Super Series National championships that season, but the ‘one that got
away’ at Trois-Rivières still sticks out in his mind as unfinished business.
“When we go to Trois-Rivières, I don't care how many laps I
lead, as long as we lead the last one,” joked Thomson, last month. In the
2001 race, his car was actually pushed across the finish line by that of
his teammate, John Fitzpatrick. “Last time we were there, I led every lap
but the last one. I’m looking forward to that race especially because it
was a great event with so many thousands of fans there to watch us. There
were huge crowds there to watch CASCAR racing.”
Sunday’s (Aug. 6) 100 km CASCAR Super Series feature race at
the G.P. de Trois-Rivières takes the green flag at 11: 15 a.m. CASCAR has
two practice sessions scheduled for Friday (Aug. 3), in advance of the
half-hour qualifying session on Saturday morning (Aug. 5). That session
will set the starting field for Sunday’s main event.
While the Fitzpatrick Motorsports duo of Don Thomson and John
Fitzpatrick were central to the finish of the Trois-Rivières CASCAR race in
2001, there’s a good chance that the newest addition to the team will play
a factor in this Sunday’s race.
J.R. Fitzpatrick is the leader of the CASCAR Super Series
points chase following five events. On the strength of his first career
feature win and several other strong runs, the Milwaukee Tools Chevy driver
is brimming with confidence, making it clear to all that he belongs on the
list of contenders for this year’s championship.
The Cambridge, ON youngster has been competitive in every
event so far this year, shining on ovals and road courses, alike. The Grand
Prix de Trois-Rivières is the third of four road races on the 2006
schedule. Kerry Micks won the Father’s Day race at Mosport Int’l Raceway,
while Jeff Lapcevich won CASCAR’s most recent race, the Griddly Headz 100
at the Grand Prix of Edmonton. J.R. Fitzpatrick started on the pole at both
Mosport and Edmonton.
TROIS-RIVIÈRES NOTEBOOK: Don Thomson Jr. won the pole for CASCAR’s only
other race at the G.P. de Trois-Rivières, in 2001… That year, Kerry Micks
started at the back of the 23-car field and made an impressive charge to
third, at the finish, just behind Castrol Dodge driver DJ Kennington… In
addition to CASCAR, several other series will be in action this weekend at
Trois-Rivières, including: Skip Barber, SCCA Mazda MX-5, Grand Am Cup, Star
Mazda, Formula 1600 and the Echo Pirelli Series.
PHOTO: Back in 2001, in CASCAR's only other appearance at the G.P. de
Trois-Rivières, Don Thomson was pushed across the finish line by his
teammate, John Fitzpatrick, after leading all but the final lap. Thomson
gets a chance to redeem himself this Sunday. (CREDIT: Colourtech.ca)
CASCAR ON TV: Catch replays of the Castrol 300 from Vernon Speedway on:
Friday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. on SPORTSNET EAST, ONTARIO and WEST. 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.
SCHEDULE: G.P. DE TROIS-RIVIERES (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec)
CASCAR Super Series
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2006
10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. CASCAR Super Series Practice Session #1
6:10 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Practice Session #2
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2006
10:35 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. CASCAR Qualifying Session
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2006
10:00 a.m. CASCAR Driver and Crew Chief
Meeting
11:15 a.m. START: CASCAR SUPER SERIES
100 KM FEATURE RACE
STANDINGS: CASCAR SUPER SERIES (As of July 25, 2006): 1. #84 J.R.
Fitzpatrick (907 pts.); 2. #02 Kerry Micks (902); 3. #22 Scott Steckly
(889); 4. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (877); 5. #17 DJ Kennington (860); 6. #39 Dave
Whitlock (852); 7. #19 Brad Graham (849); 8. #10 Doug Brown (837); 9. #9
Mark Dilley (819); 10. #1 Peter Gibbons (816); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (809);
12. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (801); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway (772); 14. #14 John
Fitzpatrick (752); 15. #11 Ron Van Es (716)
STANDINGS: FLO~PRO.COM WESTERN SERIES (As of July 25, 2006): 1. #36 Jim
White (705); 2. #35 Kevin Dowler (694); 3. #30 Derek Polack (678); 4. #71
Daryl Harr (668); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (650); 6. #2 Carl Harr (640); 7. #26
Shaun Polack (612); 8. #79 Wade Lee (601); 9. #21 Jason White (599); 10.
#86 Shawn Press (580); 11. #24 Scott Dennis (572); 12. #96 Norm Hunger
(478); 13. #87 James Ward (468); 14. #76 Dale Biesick (458); 15. #42 Lyle
Paulson (443)
STANDINGS: SPORTSMAN SERIES (As of July 11, 2006): 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven
(165); 2. #32 Mike Alguire (164); 3. #00 Steve Munro (154); 4. #81 Shawn
McGlynn (150); 5. #11 Cole Weber (147); 6. #95 Ron Lethbridge (140); 7. #20
Dave Didero (136); 8. #67 Scott Mitchell (136); 9. #82 Dave Connelly (136);
10. #48 Doug Cathcart (135); 11. #36 Alan Lebert (133); 12. #07 Joey McColm
(127); 13. #66 Josh Wood (64)
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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should be sent to: greg@insidetracknews.com
