CASCAR: Fair and Gibbons take 'Twin 100' wins in Calgary
30 July 2000
EDMONTON, AB - The CASCAR Castrol Super Series took to the high banks of Race City Motorsport Park on Friday night for the Twin 100-lap race portion of the Mopar Parts 500 Race Weekend at the Calgary half-mile oval. Fresh off his back-to-back road course victories in the Toronto Molson Indy and the first National race of the Super Series season, last weekend in Edmonton, Kevin Dowler showed he's equally adept at oval track racing. The Ford Quality Care Taurus driver earned the pole for Sunday's 300 lap feature with a record breaking lap of 17.473 seconds. Defending Eastern series champion Don Thomson Jr. posted the second quickest time of the 30 competitors who participated in the time trial session and will start alongside Dowler - in his Home Hardware Chevrolet - on Sunday afternoon. Turning to the heat races, Dowler led early in the first 100 lap sprint race but a flat tire, just before the one-third point of the race, dashed his hopes for victory. The lead passed briefly to hometown favourite Wade Lee, but trouble under the hood of his A&A Manufacturing Pontiac Grand Prix knocked him out of the race. Skoal Inc. Chevy driver Neil Fair, of Ancaster, ON inherited the top spot and led the rest of the way in front of fellow Skoal Inc. Chevy driver Don Sales (Quesnel, BC) was second at the finish, ahead of Speedy Auto Service Taurus driver Dave Jacombs of Mt. Hope, ON. In the second 100 lap race, Don Thomson started on the pole and was pursued by National champion Peter Gibbons for the first 81 laps before losing a cylinder and allowing the Canadian Tire Chevy driver to go around him in turn 3. Gibbons checked out on Thomson, but with just a handful of laps remaining, Gibbons suffered a flat tire and was barely able to hold off Thomson at the finish. Former CASCAR champion Andy Farr, of Chesterfield, MI was third in his DeWalt Intrepid. The top 26 grid positions for Sunday's Mopar Parts 300 were set on Friday night. The remaining slots will be determined by a Final Qualifiers' race on Saturday night at Race City Motorsport Park. *** The #76 Blue Streak Racing / Turner Motorsports team has withdrawn from the Mopar Parts 500 Race Weekend. A few days ago, James Turner, the son of last year's Mopar Parts 300 polesitter and second-place finisher Alan Turner, required emergency surgery at Sick Children's Hospital, in Toronto. Al Turner and the members of the Turner family have returned to Ontario to be with James. Under the circumstances, Blue Streak Racing made the decision to park the #76 Intrepid for the weekend, although two of the team's cars will be on display at Race City Motorsport Park. Al and his wife Jill have been overwhelmed by the support they've received during this difficult time. More details of James' condition will be made available in a future release. Prayers and support can be sent to James Turner at: The Sick Children's Hospital; 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8. by Inside Track Communications.