CASCAR: Vanderwyst third at Delaware; finishes fourth in Nat'l points

9 September 1999

ST. THOMAS, ON - By finishing third in the CARQUEST 300 at Delaware
Speedway Park on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 5), Loctite Chevrolet driver Pete
Vanderwyst climbed to fourth in the final CASCAR Castrol Super Series
National point standings and confirmed his standing as one of the country's
top stock car racers.

	The St. Thomas, ON resident started sixth in the field of 35 CASCAR Late
Model racers in Canada's biggest stock car race of the year and was able to
climb to third at the end. Even a flat tire and a buckled hood on the
Loctite Chevy wasn't enough to knock him out of contention.

	"We had an awesome weekend. We're just elated," smiled Vanderwyst, after
the race. "We thought we might have had a chance to win and tried a bit of
strategy by pitting a little bit early and pick up some tires - along with
a 'gas and go'.

"We got the lead - which was what we wanted - but unfortunately, we had a
left-front tire go flat, which meant we had to stop. So, after that, we got
back up a ways, but then, there was a brake-check that buckled the hood. I
couldn't see that well and didn't want to risk hurting the car because I
knew it was good. We were only eighth at the time and there were just 11
cars on the lead lap, so I knew I'd be able to take care of the hood and
get the spots back quickly."

Vanderwyst's confidence in the car was well-founded, as he made the stop
and charged back toward the leaders, in front of a crowd of over 13,000
fans at the London, ON area oval.

"So, we brought it in to take the hood off and made a final chassis
adjustment. It really didn't hurt us to make the stop and improve the car.
After that, we went back out and got back to fifth. Later on, Don Thomson
and Dave Whitlock (who were running second and third, respectively, at the
time) got together - which was unfortunate for them, but it helped us out.
That's the way the cookie crumbles and I'm glad to be on the podium with
racers like Peter Gibbons and Kerry Micks." Gibbons won the race, for the
second year in a row, while Micks climbed from his 22nd place starting spot
to take second.

Looking back at his team's achievements in '99, Vanderwyst is justifiably
proud.

"There's no question that we made great strides this year. This is one of
the elite teams in this division. We've proven it all summer and we haven't
finished worse than third in the last five oval races. That says something
about our team and how we've been able to get it together over the year."

	In Friday night's 100 lap heat race, Pete Vanderwyst started and finished
second.

This weekend: This coming weekend, Pete Vanderwyst and the crew of the #77
Loctite Chevrolet Monte Carlo will be competing in one of the biggest races
of their careers. The team trails points leader Don Thomson by just 22
points in their quest for their first CASCAR Castrol Super Series East title.
 
Vanderwyst is truly excited about this weekend's CARQUEST 200 at
Fredericton, NB's New Brunswick Int'l Speedway (Sept. 11-12). "We'll go
after the Eastern championship in New Brunswick this weekend and hopefully,
we're able to give Donnie [Thomson] a good run for that title."
Not content with fourth place, Vanderwyst is already looking toward the
Year 2000 campaign. "The only thing we have left to take care of us the
engine situation on the road courses. Once we do that, look out. That bit
us for the National championship, but you live and learn."

Final National Points Standings // After Round #4 of 4 / As of September 5,
1999: 1. #1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON / 1654 points); 2. #4E Don
Thomson (Hamilton, ON / 1570); 3. #17 DJ Kennington  (St Thomas, ON / 1564);
4. #77 Pete Vanderwyst (St Thomas, ON / 1518 / #77 Loctite Chevrolet Monte
Carlo); 5. #02 Kerry Micks (Mt Albert, ON / 1486); 6. #35 Kevin Dowler
(Edmonton, AB / 1430); 7. #98 Dave Whitlock (Petrolia, ON / 1422); 8. #76
Al Turner (Barrie, ON / 1406); 9. #66 Robin Buck  (Oakville, ON / 1386);
10. #33E Neil Fair  (Ancaster, ON / 1366)
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