Edmonton results

EDMONTON, AB - For the second time in as many weeks, Kevin Dowler emerged victorious in CASCAR Castrol Super Series action. Last week, the Sherwood Park, AB racer won on the streets of Toronto at the Molson Indy. And on Sunday afternoon, Dowler dominated the opening round of the 2000 CASCAR National championship chase, in front of his hometown fans, to win the Bumper to Bumper Motorsport Classic for the second time in just three years. Dowler's winning strategy on the tarmac of the Edmonton City Centre Airport temporary road course circuit was to pit for four tires and fuel, just past halfway mark of the 86 lap race, and then run a steady pace to the finish. The plan worked flawlessly and the Ford Quality Care Service driver came across the finish line almost 19 seconds ahead of second place finisher Carl Harr, of St. Albert, AB. Starting from the pole, Dowler led the first six laps before settling into a relaxed pace. He retook the top position on lap 19 and held the spot until pitting on lap 47. When the rest of the front runners were finished making their pit stops, Dowler found himself back out front and he would not be challenged again. "The car was flawless and our plan worked perfectly," smiled Dowler after the victory. "We built on the momentum we gained winning in Toronto and came home thinking we could do well here in Edmonton. This is such a thrill and a credit to my Ford Taurus and my excellent crew. We got out early, led a few laps and then protected the tires knowing that we weren't going to stop until after halfway. After that, it was just a matter of running our own race and staying out of trouble." Carl Harr's runner-up finish bettered his third-place result in last year's Bumper to Bumper 250km race. Like Dowler, Harr - who drives the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet - also credited a solid strategy and the work of his pit crew for his success. The third and final spot on the podium went to Mopar Parts / Mr. Sub Intrepid driver Ron Beauchamp. The Windsor, ON racer isn't known as a road racer but after starting 19th in the 29-car field, the former Super Series East champion ran a steady pace to post his best-ever non-oval finish.

NEXT EVENT: The CASCAR Castrol Super Series National Championship resumes next weekend at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary, AB with the Mopar Parts 300. Qualifying for the pole position takes place on Friday evening. The 300-lap feature race scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

<pre> CASCAR Castrol Super Series National Championship Results: Bumper to Bumper Motorsport Classic / July 23, 2000 Round #1 / Edmonton City Centre Airport / Edmonton, AB

Fin.    St.     Car#    Driver (Hometown)       Sponsor / Make  Laps
1       1       35      Kevin Dowler (Edmonton, AB)     
                        Ford Quality Care Service / Herbrand Tools Taurus       86
2       4       2       Carl Harr (Edmonton, AB)        
                        GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo                     86
3       19      60      Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON) 
                        Mopar Parts / Mr. Sub Intrepid                          86
4       6       17      D.J. Kennington (St. Thomas, ON)        
                        Castrol Canada / Elgin Chrysler  Dodge                  86
5       5       4E      Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON)  
                        Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo                     86
6       9       4       Daryl Harr (Edmonton, AB)       
                        John Deere Chevrolet Monte Carlo                        86
7       27      64      Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON)        
                        NTN Bearings Ford Taurus                                86
8       23      03      Jason McLellan (Mt. Forest, ON) R       
                        Artic Clear / Thistletown / TD Smith Intrepid           86
9       24      21      Damon Sharpe (Stouffville, ON) R        
                        PartSource / Formula Shell Chevrolet Monte Carlo        85
10      3       1       Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) 
                        Canadian Tire Chevrolet Monte Carlo                     85
11      13      33      Don Sales (Quesnel, BC) Skoal Inc. 
                        Chevrolet Monte Carlo                                   85
12      13      33      Don Sales (Quesnel, BC) Skoal Inc. 
                        Chevrolet Monte Carlo                                   83
13      8       09      Trevor Seibert (Williams Lake, BC) R    
                        EMCO Limited Ford Taurus                                83
14      22      14      James VanDomselaar (Ft. Sask., AB)      
                        Pontiac Grand Prix                                      82
15      11      88      Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope, ON)     
                        Speedy Auto Service Ford Taurus                         79
16      14      98      Dave Whitlock (Petrolia, ON)    
                        Ford Quality Care Service Ford Taurus                   78
17      25      04      Andy Farr (Chesterfield, MI)    
                        DeWalt Intrepid                                         77
18      7       76      Alan Turner (Barrie, ON)        
                        Blue Streak Hygrade Motor Products Intrepid             76
19      15      14E     John Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON)      
                        WWF Chevrolet Monte Carlo                               74
20      28      93      Charlie Kirton (Saskatoon, SK)  
                        Great Western Brewing Co. Chevrolet Monte Carlo         73
21      10      12      Ron Larson (Quesnel, BC)        Chevrolet Monte Carlo   64
22      18      44      Fred DelPero (Edmonton, AB)     
                        CanadaTrader.com / Castrol Ford Taurus                  62
23      20      3       Chris Fowler (Stirling, ON) R   
                        Snap On Tools / General Motors Chevrolet Monte Carlo    60
24      26      66      Robin Buck (Oakville, ON)       
                        UAP / NAPA Pontiac Grand Prix                           51
25      12      33E     Neil Fair (Ancaster, ON)
                        Skoal Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo                        49
26      16      99      Brad Jacques (Mt. Brydges, ON)  
                        Exide Batteries of Canada Intrepid                      42
27      2       77      Pete Vanderwyst (St. Thomas, ON)        
                        Loctite Chevrolet Monte Carlo                           40
28      21      20      Kim Richard (Calgary, AB)       Chevrolet Monte Carlo   21
29      29      6       Todd Nichol (St. Albert, AB)    
                        Rocky Mountain Sales Chevrolet Monte Carlo              6

R after the driver's hometown denotes rookie contender Margin of Victory: 18.687 seconds // Time of Race: 1 hours, 59 minutes and 21.653 seconds // Cautions: 1 for a total of 6 laps. // Lap leaders: #35 Kevin Dowler (1-6), #77 Pete Vanderwyst (7-16), #1 Peter Gibbons (17-18), #35 Dowler (19-46), #4E Don Thomson Jr. (47-54), #2 Carl Harr (55-56) and #35 Dowler (57-86).