CASCAR Castrol Super Series - Mosport Preview
25 August 2000
OSHAWA, ON - Following an almost four week break in the action, the CASCAR Castrol Super Series National Series resumes this weekend at Mosport Int'l Raceway, north of Bowmanville, ON for the third of four events on the 2000 National schedule. CASCAR is making its third visit to the legendary road course circuit in as many years for an event that challenges the country's elite stock car drivers at one of Canada's top dedicated road racing facilities. Peter Gibbons is the defending winner of the 'UAP/NAPA Presents the Mosport 250km' and is in top form, once again, as the National series is heading into the home stretch. The Canadian Tire Chevy driver - who is also the reigning CASCAR Castrol Super Series Nat'l champion - won the July 30 National event (Round #2) at Calgary's Race City Motorsport Park and backed that up a week later with a victory in the Eastern season finale at Montreal's Autodrome St-Eustache. Gunning for Gibbons, at Mosport, will be a large contingent of talented racers, including Don Thomson Jr., who sits second in points at the midway point of the National schedule. The Home Hardware Chevy driver is just four points back of Gibbons. It should be interesting to watch this pair compete at Mosport after the late-race fireworks that flew at St-Eustache, just three weeks ago, when Gibbons and Thomson finished the event 'one-two' to complete the Eastern season tied atop the points chase. Thomson's two Eastern victories in 2000 - compared to Gibbons' one - was the difference that allowed Thomson to retain his Eastern crown for a second consecutive time. Kevin Dowler and Carl Harr, who finished first and second in the opening National race on July 23 at the Edmonton City Centre Airport, have made the trek from Edmonton to race at Mosport this weekend. Both have extensive experience on the Toronto-area road course and each is within striking distance of becoming the first western competitor to become CASCAR's National champion. Dowler and Harr are third and fourth, respectively, in the National standings after two events. Dowler also won this year's CASCAR race at the Toronto Molson Indy and is looking to complete the sweep of all three CASCAR road course races in 2000. Following his fifth-place finish on July 30 at Calgary's Race City Motorsport Park, Dowler did a little 'trash talking' about his prospects for this weekend's road course race at Mosport. "If you think we had a good run coming into this weekend at Calgary - winning in Toronto and Edmonton - then you should watch us at Mosport on the road course. I'm serious. Mosport isn't the City Centre Airport… it's a racetrack. We have the power and the chassis. We're going to have to qualify first again to shut some people up. It's as simple as that. We haven't begun to prove what we can do." Finally, no list of contenders for victory this weekend would be complete without mentioning talented road racer Robin Buck. The UAP/NAPA Pontiac driver won the Molson Indy CASCAR event in '99 but has endured a rough stretch of late and is hoping to get back on track at Mosport. The front row for Sunday's UAP/NAPA Presents the Mosport 250km will be set following a half-hour, timed qualifying session on Friday afternoon (4:20 p.m. to 4:50). On Saturday, the CASCAR Late Models will take to the track at 1:00 p.m. for their second and final qualifying session. A pair of 35-minute timed Sprint Races - which will award the same amount of National championship points as Sunday's feature - will commence at 3:00 and will set the remainder of the field for Sunday's CASCAR main, which will start at 2:00 p.m. There are many other classes on the weekend schedule at Mosport, including F1200s, ChampCar Lights, Canada GT Challenge Cup and the Cdn. Formula Ford 1600s. The Turners Return: This weekend's action at Mosport Int'l Raceway will mark a return to action for driver Al Turner, who missed a pair of races to be with his son, James, who underwent serious back surgery in the days leading up to the July 30 race in Calgary. Happily, Al will be back behind the wheel of the #76 Blue Streak Intrepid at Mosport and will be cheered on by James as the pair heads to the racetrack for the first time since a large, benign tumour was removed from James' spine. James recently returned home to Barrie, ON after an extended stay at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital and will, in September, begin a lengthy rehabilitation program at North York's Bloorview MacMillan Centre. *** CASCAR Castrol Super Series National Point Standings As of August 12, 2000: POS. CAR# REGION DRIVER (Car Make / Points) 1. #1 East - Peter Gibbons (Chevrolet / 975); 2. #4 East - Don Thomson Jr. (Chevrolet / 971); 3. #35 West - Kevin Dowler (Ford / 954); 4. #2 West - Carl Harr (Chevrolet / 943); 5. #17 East - DJ Kennington (Intrepid / 882); 6. #33 West - Don Sales (Chevrolet / 872); 7. #4 West - Daryl Harr (Chevrolet / 871); 8. #98 East - David Whitlock (Ford / 857); 9. #88 East - Dave Jacombs (Ford / 842); 10. #5 West - Steve Jefferson (Intrepid / 818); 11. #64 East - Mark Dilley (Ford / 816); 12. #09 West - Trevor Seibert (Ford / 814); 13. #14 East - John Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 805); 14. #04 East - Andy Farr (Intrepid / 801); 15. #33 East - Neil Fair (Chevrolet / 790); 16. #12 West - Ron Larson (Chevrolet / 789); 17. #77 East - Pete Vanderwyst (Chevrolet / 783); 18. #60 East - Ron Beauchamp (Intrepid / 776); 19. #44 West - Fred Del Pero (Ford / 768); 20. #99 East - Brad Jacques (Intrepid / 766); 21. #66 East - Robin Buck Pontiac 760); 22. #03 East - Jason McLellan (Intrepid / 756); 23. #20 West - Kim Richard (Chevrolet / 732); 24. #93 West - Charlie Kirton (Chevrolet / 726); 25. #3 East - Chris Fowler (Chevrolet / 722); 26. #76 East - Al Turner (Intrepid / 600); 27. #79 West - Wade Lee (Chevrolet / 542); 28. #21 East - Damon Sharpe (Chevrolet / 528); 29. #15 West - Mike Browne Pontiac 512); 30. #34 West - Darren Turner (Chevrolet / 504) by Inside Track Communications.