CASCAR: Quest for CASCAR supremacy begins this weekend at Delaware
18 May 2000
Mopar Parts 250 Weekend Preview KOMOKA, ON - The first round of the CASCAR Castrol Super Series East takes place this weekend (May 20-21) at Delaware Speedway Park with the Mopar Parts 250. There have been many exciting changes to the CASCAR scene during the off-season. Prime among them - when it comes to the on-track product - has been the switch to Goodyear racing slicks. The change will guarantee that the existing CASCAR qualifying and race lap-speed records on the banked, half-mile London, Ont. area oval will be obliterated by a majority of the competitors. Defending National champion Peter Gibbons was the big winner the last time the Castrol Super Series visited Delaware, last fall on the Labour Day weekend. The Canadian Tire Chevy driver won the CARQUEST 300, and in doing so, captured his first Super Series National title. The list of drivers who are out to wrestle the Castrol Cup from Gibbons' grip is almost endless. Eastern Series champion Don Thomson Jr. led the National points chase for the first half of the '99 season and is determined to win it all this year. Three-time National champ Dave Whitlock is returning after an 'off' season for the talented Ford Taurus driver and has his sights on his fourth Castrol Cup. Add in drivers who have been close - like Pete Vanderwyst, DJ Kennington, Al Turner and others - and Gibbons has his work cut out for him. In all, 38 of Canada's best stock car racers will take the green flag on Sunday. Neil Fair is the defending winner of the Mopar Parts 250. His victory in the event last May was a breakthrough for the Skoal Inc. sponsored racer. Although he'd been close on many occasions, he'd never won a Super Series race until tasting victory at Delaware. At the outset of the 2000 campaign, Fair is hoping to contend for more checkered flags and maybe even a championship. "I'd like to win two or three races," said Fair. "We were poised to do that last year but it didn't happen and we got over it. The first win last year was a big thing for everybody. I think that once you get that under your belt, you feel a lot more confident. We're shooting for a couple of wins this year." Weekend Schedule: On Friday evening, Delaware features its regular weekly racing program. Spectator gates open at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday night (May 20) for the millennium's first appearance of the Super Series cars and drivers. Single-car qualifying for the Mopar Parts 250 commences at 6:00 p.m. with Super Series Late Model heat races (4), 'King of the Hill', London Vintage Super Modifieds, Midas Truck and Ladies Enduro action also on the card. The 'Final Qualifier' race, held near the end of the evening, will set the field for Sunday's feature race. Delaware throws open the gates to racing fans on Sunday morning (May 21) at 11:00 a.m. Fifteen minutes later, the popular Driver Autograph Session will start and last until the commencement of the on-track portion of the day's program. The Mopar Parts 250 Parade Laps begin at 12:30, followed by a CASCAR Junior racing demonstration and the V.I.P. and driver introductions. The green flag is scheduled to fly on the 2000 CASCAR Castrol Super Series East season at 2:00 p.m. Mopar Parts 250 Notes: Super Series West competitor Kevin Dowler has registered for the Mopar Parts 250... A total of 10 rookie drivers have filed entry forms for the race... The weekend kicks off Thursday (May 18) at Kelsey's West (Oxford & Wonderland) at 5:00 p.m. with a live radio show that features driver interviews. Super Series racers will be there with their cars and will sign autographs for racing fans in attendance.