CASCAR Castrol Super Series - CARQUEST 500 Race Weekend Preview
31 August 2000
LONDON, ON - The CASCAR Castrol Super Series crowns its National champion this weekend at Delaware Speedway Park with the CARQUEST 500 Race Weekend. The highlight on the schedule is Sunday afternoon's CARQUEST 300. Known affectionately as 'The Great Canadian Race', the 300 lap spectacle is the biggest, oldest and richest stock car race in the country. The Labour Day action starts on Friday evening at the London, ON area half-mile oval with time trials to determine the polesitter for Sunday's main event. Following that, there are two, 100-lap Sprint Races which will set the majority of the field for the CARQUEST 300. These 100 lap chases are explosive because in terms of the National points chase, they carry the same weight as the Sunday feature. In essence, together they comprise the seventh of eight National points rounds. And when compared to the CARQUEST 300, the Sprint Races leave competitors only one-third of the race distance to make it to the front of the field. The remainder of the starting field will be locked in following the Final Qualifiers' race on Saturday evening. Sunday's CARQUEST 300 will start at 2:15 p.m. Spectator gates for this weekend's action at Delaware open at: Friday - 5:00 p.m. // Saturday - 4:30 p.m. // Sunday - 11: a.m. Defending CASCAR Castrol Super Series National champion Peter Gibbons enters this year's CARQUEST 500 Race Weekend looking to repeat as the event's 'double winner'. Last Labour Day, the Canadian Tire Chevy driver won the CARQUEST 300, and in the process, collected his first CASCAR Castrol Super Series National title. Entering this weekend's competition, Gibbons - who has won the last three Super Series events he's entered - holds a narrow points lead over arch-rival Don Thomson Jr. (Home Hardware Chevy). The pair have finished 'one-two' in their last three Super Series race outings. Known for his desire to accumulate checkered flags - even at the risk of losing titles - Gibbons' desire is to go for the win and let the championship chips fall where they may. "I'd like to start further up, near the front this year at Delaware," said the Stouffville, ON native after winning National Round #3 at Mosport this past Sunday. "Usually, I'm near the back [for the start] and have to battle my way forward to the front. That's our goal: to go down there and qualify on the front row. "We're going for the win. We did that last year, when Donnie [Thomson] had some problems in the 100 lap heat race, which meant that in the 300 lap race, I could have just run around and finished in 10th place. But instead, I was running around the outside, rubbing doors, going for the win… which we got. That's the thrill and the way we want to do it." For his part, Thomson isn't conceding anything yet. The CARQUEST 300 has a history of having several drivers in contention for the win going down to the final laps. At that point, according to Thomson, anything can happen. "You gotta do what you gotta do to win a championship. When it comes down to the closing laps of the race, it's not always pretty," concluded the two-time Eastern champion. CASCAR Notes: Jacques' Last Race: On August 30, CASCAR veteran Brad Jacques announced that this year's CARQUEST 300 will be the final race as a driver. The Mt. Brydges, ON racer is a 14-year veteran of Super Series competition and has made a total of 120 starts, the second highest total among all active drivers. "We've had a great run and I have enjoyed the opportunity to race at this level," said Jacques, in the days before his last outing. "It's time to move out of the driver's seat." The Exide Intrepid driver has not announced any plans regarding his future beyond racing. Fair's Fines Eliminated: Following an appeal and review by CASCAR officials, the fines levied against Neil Fair following the Aug. 6 Super Series East finale at Autodrome St-Eustache have been waived. These had initially totaled $1,500.00. Fair's probationary status for the remainder of the 2000 stands, however, as did the requirement that Fair post a $1,000.00 performance bond, to be held until the conclusion of the schedule. CASCAR Castrol Super Series National Point Standings (Unofficial) after three events: 1. #1 Peter Gibbons (1317 pts.), 2. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1291) 3. #35 Kevin Dowler (1279) 4. #2 Carl Harr (1196) 5. #98 Dave Whitlock (1154) 6. #17 DJ Kennington (1136) 6. #71 Daryl Harr (1136) 8. #64 Mark Dilley (1100) 9. #14 John Fitzpatrick (1083) 10. #88 Dave Jacombs (1076) 11. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (1054) 12. #33 Neil Fair (1052) 13. #04 Andy Farr (1051) 14. #77 Pete Vanderwyst (1029) 15. #66 Robin Buck (1024) 16. #99 Brad Jacques (986) 17. #3 Chris Fowler (976) 18. #76 Al Turner (893) 19. #03 Jason McLellan (854) by Inside Track Communications.