Delaware finale race report

LONDON, ON - For the third time in his Castrol Super Series career, Peter Gibbons won the season-ending race at Delaware Speedway. Gibbons started second in the 'Great Canadian Race' and took the lead from second-finishing DJ Kennington with 25 laps to go in the 300-lap chase.

The victory was the third of the season for the Canadian Tire Chevy driver, who put a positive finish on a season that started with so much frustration. The Stouffville, ON driver began the defense of his second Castrol Cup, back in May at the Delaware half-mile, with a mechanical failure that prevented him from taking the green flag.

Kennington also made a strong statement at Delaware, after he was disqualified in post-race inspection, at the same track, in May. Following that disappointing result, the Castrol SYNTEC Intrepid racer put together a long string of consistent finishes and finished fourth in the final point standings, after 12 events.

The final podium position at Delaware went to Milverton, ON driver Scott Steckly, who climbed from 15th at the start, in the field of 41. The former Rookie of the Year winner ran a quiet, consistent pace in an event that was slowed by 14 caution flags for a total of 66 laps.

Although it wasn't the picture perfect day he was hoping for, Don Thomson emerged with his first Castrol Super Series championship. The Home Hardware Chevy driver started fourth and nursed a damaged clutch home after slowing dramatically on lap 214, while leading. But not winning the race didn't take away from Thomson's exceptional season. In the days before the 'Great Canadian Race', Thomson went on the record as saying that he "wanted to win the championship so badly, it hurts." Following the race, the two-time Eastern champion said he's going to go to work preparing for his 2002 championship defense within a few days.

A total of 12,638 fans were in attendance at Delaware Speedway for the season-ending Castrol Super Series race, the first time the event has been held at the end of September, as opposed to its historic Labour Day date.

In terms of the Rookie of the Year chase, Robbie Thompson's fifth-place result was enough to vault him past his season-long rookie rival Teri MacDonald-Cadieux, who ended up 21st.

UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS (FINAL - After Round #12 of 12): 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (2092), 2. #02 Kerry Micks (1976), 3. #76 Al Turner (1968), 4. #17 DJ Kennington (1935), 5. #88 Dave Jacombs (1874), 6. #64 Mark Dilley (1865), 7. #35 Kevin Dowler (1842), 8. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (1830), 9. #99 Pete Vanderwyst (1813), 10. #1 Peter Gibbons (1800), 11. #33 Neil Fair (1756), 12. #9 Robbie Thompson (1752) * Wins Rookie of the Year, 13. #14 John Fitzpatrick (1746), 14. #8 Teri MacDonald-Cadieux (1728), 15. #04 Andy Farr (1726), 16. #98 Dave Whitlock (1670), 17. #31 Kelly Williams, 18. #3 Chris Fowler (1570), 19. #22 Scott Steckly (1363), 20. #19 Brad Graham (1200).

-CASCAR-