Thursday, August 18, 2005

CASCAR: Weekend Preview

Following a rain-inspired week off, CASCAR will return to Peterborough Speedway on Saturday night for a Super Series / PowerWater Series doubleheader

LONDON, ON - CASCAR will be in action on all three fronts this Saturday, with feature events in its Super Series, PowerWater Sportsman Series and Western Series divisions. Peterborough Speedway’s high-banked, one-third-mile oval will host the bulk of the action as the CASCAR Super Series and the PowerWater Series will converge for a special night of action at the Peterborough-area oval.

The 100-lap PowerWater Series feature race will set the stage for the Peterborough Speedway 200 CASCAR Super Series race; the ninth of 12 events on the 2005 schedule for Canada’s top racing series. The tight Peterborough facility has long been a favourite of CASCAR fans who enjoy old-time, short track racing. The racers enjoy the facility too, in spite of the fact that an outing at Peterborough is guaranteed to produce more than its fair share of damaged bodywork and flared tempers.

Qualifying well and maintaining track position are two keys to success at Peterborough Speedway. Last season, two Super Series races were contested at the track and the winners of both events started their victorious runs from the front row. Mark Dilley, the driver of the #9 Dodge Charger, won at Peterborough on June 12, 2004 after lining up on the outside of the front row. Later in the season, Don Thomson Jr. guided his Home Hardware Chevy to its second checkered flag in as many weeks when he won the Aug. 28, 2004 Super Series race from the pole position.

Following last week’s rainout at Cayuga Speedway, Don Thomson will carry a healthy 89-point lead into Peterborough as he chases his fifth consecutive CASCAR Super Series National championship. The Hamilton, ON racer has always fared well at Peterborough Speedway, but he also knows that it’s the type of track that can bite you in a hurry, in spite of your best efforts to stay out of trouble. Avoiding other peoples’ problems will be a prime concern on Saturday night if Thomson is to maintain his comfort zone over his nearest points challengers Peter Gibbons and DJ Kennington; the latter will be looking to extend his three-race Super Series feature winning streak.

Time trials for Saturday’s PowerWater and Super Series races start at 4:45 p.m. at Peterborough Speedway. The green flag for the PowerWater Series 100 is scheduled to fly at 6:15 p.m. Following that race, the Super Series driver autograph session and driver introductions will set the stage for the start of the 200-lap Super Series race at 8:30 p.m. The Legends Series will also be in action at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday evening.

The CASCAR Western Series will also be busy this Saturday night for its next-to-last race of the 2005 season. Edmonton Int’l Raceway (EIR) in Wetaskiwin, Alberta will play host to the Competition Chevrolet 200.
Western Series points leader Kevin Dowler finds himself in a similar position to his eastern counterpart, Don Thomson, as the schedule reaches its climax. Like Thomson, the Sherwood Park, AB enjoys a healthy points cushion as he pursues his fifth Western Series points championship. Spectator gates for the Competition Chevrolet 200 open at 3:00 p.m., with racing at 6:30. Last year’s Western Series stop at EIR was won by Daryl Harr of nearby St. Albert, Alberta. He finished ahead of Dowler’s EMCO Taurus in that race.

CASCAR ON TV: The Mosport Speedway 200 CASCAR Super Series race will air on SPORTSNET EAST on Monday, August 22 at 2 p.m. For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

SCHEDULE:

PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY
Peterborough, Ontario
CASCAR Super Series / PowerWater Sportsman Series

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005
1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. PowerWater Series Practice
2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Super Series Practice
3:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Legends Practice
4:30 p.m. Legends Heat Races
4:45 p.m. PowerWater Series Time Trials
5:15 p.m. Super Series Time Trials
5:45 p.m. Legends Feature
6:15 p.m. START: POWERWATER SERIES 100-LAP FEATURE RACE
7:15 p.m. Super Series Driver Autograph Session
8:10 p.m. Driver Introductions
8:30 p.m. START: CASCAR SUPER SERIES 200-LAP FEATURE RACE

NOTE: Last weekend’s rain-delayed CASCAR Super Series at Cayuga 2000 Speedway has been rescheduled to the evening of Saturday, September 10.

SUPER SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 15 after 8 events. As of August 17, 2005: 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1582 pts.); 2. #1 Peter Gibbons (1493); 3. #17 DJ Kennington (1474); 4. #9 Mark Dilley (1443); 5. 39 Dave Whitlock (1412); 6. #02 Kerry Micks (1405); 7. #19 Brad Graham (1401); 8. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1390); 9. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (1382); 10. #88 Dave Jacombs (1296); 11. #22 Scott Steckly (1260); 12. #10 Doug Brown (1238); 13. #37 Tara MacLeod ® (1216); 14. #11 Ron VanEs (1206); 15. #3 Stu Robinson Jr. (1168).

POWERWATER SPORTSMAN SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 15 after 4 events. As of August 17, 2005: 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven (341 pts.); 2. #28 Steve Robblee (326); 3. #32 Mike Alguire (317); 4. #95 Ron Lethbridge ® (313); 5. #6 Brad Graham (312); 6. #00 Steve Munro (309); 7. #97 Michael Gold ® (303); 8. #38 Ken Grubb (283); 9. #11 Cole Weber ® (263); 10. #66 Josh Wood ® (261); 11. #81 Shawn McGlynn (259); 12. #91 Dean Fantin (246); 12. #45 Bob Merrifield (246); 12. #02 Scott O’Connor ® (246); 15. #67 Scott Mitchell (244)

WESTERN SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 15 after 6 events. As of August 17, 2005: 1. #35 Kevin Dowler (1309 pts.); 2. #30 Derek Polack (1238); 3. #79 Wade Lee (1212); 4. #36 Jim White (1159); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (1119); 6. #21 Jason White ® (1116); 7. #26 Shaun Polack (1092); 8. #69 Randy Kozek ® (924); 9. #14 James Van Domselaar (876); 10. #87 James Ward (828); 11. #31 Sean Maltman (676); 12. #68 Shane Charlton (562); 13. #15 Mike Browne (542); 14. #96 Norman Hunger ® (512); 15. #27 Mark Derks (288)

® Denotes Rookie of the Year Competitor.


Contact CASCAR at (519) 641-1214 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // Contact: Greg MacPherson (416) 561-2320 (cell).
Comments regarding additions to or deletions from this mailing list should be sent to: greg@insidetracknews.com

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