CASCAR Super Series East - St. Eustache Preview
16 June 1999
CASCAR returns to Quebec for UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 KOMOKA, ON - After a one week break, the CASCAR Castrol Super Series East is heading to Montreal, QC this Saturday night (June 19) for the UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 at Autodrome St. Eustache. The flat, 4/10-mile oval is part of an impressive motorsports complex that will play host to the fourth Eastern series race of the season. A total of 32 drivers have registered for the race, including St. Eustache track favourite Richard Beauchamp, of Ormstown, QC. The Ford driver has been a regular competitor in CASCAR's annual visits to the track. Another Beauchamp - defending Eastern series champion Ron Beauchamp Jr. (no relation) - won the St. Eustache Super Series race in '98. The Mopar Performance Parts / Mr. Sub Dodge driver has struggled so far in '99 with a variety of problems and will be looking to get his season back on track in 'La Belle Province'. But the racer they'll all be gunning for at St. Eustache will be Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo driver Don Thomson Jr. The Hamilton, ON resident has a win and a second place result for his efforts after three races and appears ready to challenge for the championship. "The difference this year is the amount of work we did over the winter. We changed the geometry of the front end of the car and it's worked out really well," said Thomson. "We also added some new crew members and have improved our motor program. In general, we're just more prepared this year and that's made all the difference. "One place that we've improved has been in qualifying, and that's so important in CASCAR. We've time trialed in the top 10 for each of the first three races and that's crucial for staying out of the trouble that happens back in the pack." Turning to St. Eustache, Thomson feels he'll be better prepared than ever, on Saturday night, to attack the flat Montreal oval. "We went to the CASCAR Sportsman invitational there last fall and we used a totally different setup than we'd been using for the Castrol Super Series races. It worked and that's what we're going to use there this weekend. I don't have a problem with the facility anyway, it's a great place for the fans." Ten points behind Thomson in the Eastern point standings sits Stouffville, ON racer Peter Gibbons. Fresh off a dominant win at Circuit Ste. Croix on June 5, the Chevy driver is looking strong in the early going. Race #1 winner Neil Fair (on May 23 at Delaware Speedway Park) is third in the points after three races. With Thomson, Gibbons and Fair leading the way, Chevrolets occupy the top three points positions heading to St. Eustache. CASCAR Notes: In addition to the CASCAR Castrol Late Models, the ChampCar Lights and St. Eustache 'Pro Trucks' will also be on the Saturday night race schedule at Autodrome St. Eustache... Time trials for the UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 commence at 6 p.m., with heat races at 7:00... The Western Super Series takes to the track for its third race of '99 next weekend (June 26) at Hythe Motor Speedway, near Grande Prairie, AB... CASCAR has secured a 'chalet' for use at the Toronto Molson Indy (July 16-18), at which the CASCAR Castrol Super Series East will have a race for the first time. For information on acquiring tickets to the CASCAR chalet, please contact Chris Hughes at (519) 641-1214...