CASCAR - Ford of Canada Report
16 September 1999
Ford driver Dowler wins in Regina; first double winner in West OAKVILLE, ON - Ford drivers were busy on both the Eastern and Western fronts of the CASCAR Castrol Super Series this past weekend. In Regina, SK, Ford Quality Care Service Taurus racer Kevin Dowler started fifth in the next-to-last Western race of the season and assumed the lead when race leader Carl Harr was involved in a spin with a slower car. Soon after, the threatening skies opened and brought an end to the event, at King's Park Speedway. It was Dowler's second checkered flag of the season, making him the first westerner to make a return visit to victory lane in a CASCAR West race this season. "I've had a tough enough year, so getting one like that didn't really bother me that much," said the Edmonton, AB native. "It doesn't make up for trying to knock the wall down at Prince George [BC], but if we have it running that well again this weekend at Race City, then life's good. The car's been run and beat and bruised, but it still keeps going." Fort Taurus driver Fred DelPero started and finished sixth at King's Park Speedway. The final race on the CASCAR Super Series season takes place this Saturday night (Sept. 18) at Calgary's Race City Motorsport Park. Eastern Series Concludes in New Brunswick The Eastern Super Series wrapped up its 1999 season in Fredericton, NB on Sunday afternoon at New Brunswick Int'l Speedway. Kerry Micks made another back-to-front charge and finished fourth in the final CASCAR Castrol Super Series East race of the '99 season, after lining up 13th in the starting field. The Ford Fast Lane Taurus driver finished the season in fourth in Eastern standings, just two points back of third-place finisher (and New Brunswick race winner) DJ Kennington. Ford Quality Care Service Taurus driver Dave Whitlock ended his season on a down note, finishing 21st after encountering engine trouble prior to the midway point of the race. "We had some more motor problems," said the Petrolia, ON racer. "It didn't seem great yesterday [in Saturday's qualifying sessions], but we left it in the car and after 30 laps, I knew there was something wrong. After that, it just went sour." Like Micks, Mark Dilley (NTN Bearings Taurus) started deep in the field (20th) and made a steady charge forward during the CARQUEST 200. The Barrie, ON racer was pleased to finish the season with a solid seventh-place result. "We're really happy with that. To have as bad a day as we did in qualifying on Saturday and to recover to seventh in the last race is pretty good. I have to congratulate the crew. We're all pretty 'green' in this operation and we all did pretty well. I enjoyed being back in the car and we all had a really good time." Speedy Auto Service Taurus driver Dave Jacombs came home in 10th place at NBIS, on the lead lap, while Maritime racing star Scott Fraser finished 15th in his second ever CASCAR outing, behind the wheel of a Whitlock Motorsports Taurus. Kelly Williams (C.A.G. / PPG / Inside Track) wrapped up her '99 season by finishing 22nd in the race and 10th in the Eastern points. Final Point Standings CASCAR Castrol Super Series (Eastern Series) / As of Sept. 12, 1999: 1. # 4 Don Thomson Jr. (1564 points); 2. # 77 Pete Vanderwyst (1530); 3. # 17 DJ Kennington (1494); 4. # 02 Kerry Micks (1492 / Fast Lane Ford Taurus); 5. # 1 Peter Gibbons (1462); 6. # 33 Neil Fair (1456); 7. # 98 Dave Whitlock (1378 / Ford Quality Care Service Taurus); 8. # 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (1370); 9. # 64 Mark Dilley (1366 / NTN Bearings Ford Taurus); 10. # 31 Kelly Williams (1354 / C.A.G. / PPG / Inside Track Ford Taurus); 22. # 25 Jim Lapcevich (904 / Tim Horton's Ford Taurus); 27. # 88 Dave Jacombs (698 / Speedy Ford Taurus); 28. # 28 Steve Robblee (682 / Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus) For more information, contact Ford of Canada's Rick Rigby at (905) 845-2511 ext. 1440 or Craig Chisamore at ext. 3175.