CASCAR Super Series East - St. Eustache Report
21 June 1999
CASCAR Castrol Super Series East UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 Thomson wins at St. Eustache ST. EUSTACHE, QC - The CASCAR Castrol Super Series made its second of two visits to Quebec (in 1999), on Saturday night, for the UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 at Autodrome St. Eustache. The Montreal-area oval played host to the fourth Eastern race of the summer. Don Thomson Jr. upped his winning percentage to '.500' by taking his second checkered flag of the season. The Hamilton, ON racer started on the outside pole in the field of 31 Late Models and moved to the front with a 'bump and pass' on leader Steve Robblee, in the third turn, on lap 36. For almost a hundred laps afterwards, Thomson cruised through traffic, well ahead of his nearest pursuers. But in the late going, Thomson's handling started to slide and he was eventually caught by Ford Fast Lane Taurus driver Kerry Micks. With less than 10 laps remaining in the 150 lap affair, Micks was hot on the bumper of Thomson's Home Hardware Chevrolet. With eight laps to go, Micks tapped Thomson as the pair went through turns 1-2. Thomson slid high and that was enough for Micks to get underneath and take the lead. But Thomson was taking notes. The next lap, he turned the tables on Micks and pulled the exact same move in exactly the same place... with the same result. Thomson re-assumed the lead for keeps on lap 143 in what would be the final lead change of the race. Micks held for second at the finish, ahead of reigning National CASCAR Castrol Super Series champion Dave Whitlock. After the race, Thomson and Micks were both energized by the show they'd put on. The flat St. Eustache track is a tough one to pass on and a level of contact is accepted. But both drivers stayed within the boundaries and were satisfied with the outcome. "This is a habit I could get used to," smiled Thomson, after picking up his second win of '99. "That was a good race. Kerry ran me clean and that's all you can ask." "I've raced with Donnie a long time and you know what to expect," smiled Micks, following the race. "I got him late in the race and he got me back with the same move. I can't complain with this second [place]." Whitlock was also pleased with the outcome. According to the Ford Quality Care Taurus driver, the handling on his car was never quite 'right'. "Tonight, we took what should have been a seventh place car and came home third, so I'm proud of that." With the win, Thomson further cemented his points lead. His nearest competitor entering the UAP/NAPA Autopro 150 was Peter Gibbons, but the Stouffville, ON racer struggled throughout the heat races and the feature and finished a disappointing 23rd, to fall behind new second place driver Neil Fair and Whitlock in the Eastern standings. POINT STANDINGS: (As of June 19, 1999 / After 4 events): 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. 686 points (Chevrolet) 2. #33 Neil Fair 634 (Chevrolet) 3. #98 Dave Whitlock 604 (Ford) 4. #1 Peter Gibbons 594 (Chevrolet) 5. #17 DJ Kennington 590 (Dodge) 6. #64 Mark Dilley 580 (Chevrolet) 7. #77 Pete Vanderwyst 574 (Chevrolet) 7. #02 Kerry Micks 574 (Ford) 9. #67 Derrick Tiemersma 570 (Pontiac) 10. #14 John Fitzpatrick 554 (Chevrolet) 11. #51 Al Long 528 (Chevrolet) 12. #52 Bill Rowse Jr. 526 (Chevrolet) 13. #31 Kelly Williams 524 (Ford) 14. #90 Brad Jacques 516 (Dodge) 15. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. 514 (Dodge) 16. #25 Jim Lapcevich 510 (Ford) 17. #04 Andy Farr 482 (Dodge) 18. #8 Ted McIntyre 468 (Dodge) 19. #66 Robin Buck 454 (Pontiac) 19. #5 Nik Lapcevich 454 (Chevrolet) 21. #22 Scott Steckly 452 (Pontiac) 22. #76 Al Turner 422 (Dodge) 23. #94 Mark Graham 408 (Chevrolet) 24. #99 Scott Watkins 402 (Pontiac) 25. #97 Rob Neely 398 (Dodge) Race Notes: CASCAR Notes: Heat race wins at St. Eustache went to DJ Kennington, Rob Neely, Nik Lapcevich and Kerry Micks. Al Turner won the Final Qualifiers' race... In just his fourth race since returning to CASCAR, NTN Bearings Ford Taurus driver Mark Dilley captured a Super Series pole... The feature win by Thomson made it 'four for four' for Chevrolets in '99... The next Eastern series race is this weekend (July 26-27) at Cayuga Speedway... The Western tour is back in action on Saturday night (June 26) at Hythe Motor Speedway, near Grande Prairie, AB.