Mosport: Season first road course preview

CASCAR heads to Mosport Int'l Raceway for its first road race of the Super Series season.

MOSPORT, ON - Every racer who has aspirations of becoming the CASCAR Super Series champion knows that road racing is a significant and critical component of the series. With three 'non-oval' events on the 2003 schedule, fully one-quarter of the races will be contested on road courses, of one type or another. The CASCAR Super Series will make its first road racing appearance of the season, this weekend, when Mosport Int'l Raceway hosts the 'Exide Batteries 200 km' on the legendary 2.459 mile, 10-turn road course.

Coming into the race, two-time and defending CASCAR Super Series National champion Don Thomson has a slim, two-point lead in his hunt for a third-straight title. Displaying an uncharacteristic level of early season consistency, Thomson heads to Mosport the third race on the 12-event Super Series schedule atop the standings courtesy of a pair of runner-up finishes, at Delaware and Peterborough.

"We're definitely feeling good about how things are going so far," said Thomson. "Last year at this point, we had like a 15th and a fifth. We've led laps in both races so far this year. We've finished second twice, and we're leading the points, which is where we want to be. Things are good."

The individual who is closest to Thomson, in the points, is Kerry Micks. The UFCW Racing for a Cure Taurus racer is also enjoying a very strong start to the 2003 season. This past Saturday night, at Peterborough Speedway, the Mt. Albert, Ontario resident started on the pole and emerged victorious following a lengthy back-and-forth battle with Thomson and his Home Hardware Chevy.

It was Micks' first Super Series win since the spring of 2001, at Delaware. After that victory, Micks went on to lead the point standings for much of the season, before ultimately finishing second to Thomson in the final tally. Micks is hoping that history repeats itself and his solid start in '03 will translate into another successful Super Series campaign.

Qualifying takes place Saturday, while the feature race will start on Sunday afternoon (June 14) at 2 p.m. (See below for weekend schedule).

Kevin Dowler won the Exide 200 km in 2002, but won't be on hand to defend this weekend. The Edmonton, Alberta racer is concentrating on the CASCAR EMCO Western Series this year and only plans to participate in a few Super Series events. Dowler's focus on the west is clearly paying off, however, as he has won three consecutive EMCO Western Series races, dating back to the end of last season.

CASCAR NOTEBOOK: Kevin Dowler's win in last Saturday night's Auto Clearing Chrysler Superstore 150 at Saskatoon's Bridge City Speedway was his second in as many EMCO Western Series races held so far this year. Chris Shirley, who surprised everyone by winning the event in 2002, demonstrated that his success was no fluke by finishing second to Dowler in '03. One of Dowler's Apollo Motorsports teammates, Trevor Seibert, was third at Bridge City.

In CASCAR CARQUEST Sportsman Series news, the 2003 schedule finally got underway, last Friday evening (June 6), at Delaware Speedway. Dion Verhoeven led Ron Sheridan and Scott Lindsay across the finish line in the 100-lap race at the half-mile, London-area oval.

<pre> EVENT SCHEDULE 'EXIDE BATTERIES 200 KM' AT MOSPORT INT'L RACEWAY:

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2003 10:30 10:55 a.m. CASCAR Super Series Practice 11: 45 a.m. CASCAR Driver and Crew Chief Meeting 12:45 1:10 p.m. CASCAR Qualifying Session #1 3:45 4:15 p.m. CASCAR Qualifying Session #2

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2003 11:00 a.m. CASCAR Cars on the Grid 12:00 1:00 p.m. CASCAR Driver Autograph Session (in Upper Paddock) 1:30 1:55 p.m. CASCAR Driver Introductions 2:00 p.m. GREEN FLAG: EXIDE BATTERIES 200 KM FEATURE RACE

</pre> * The Ontario Touring Car Championship, the Skip Barber Nat'l Championship and the ActionFront Street Stock Challenge are also in action at Mosport Int'l Raceway this weekend.

CASCAR POINT STANDINGS:

CASCAR SUPER SERIES: POINT STANDINGS AFTER TWO EVENTS: 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. / Ayr, ON Chevrolet 329 points; 2. #02 Kerry Micks / Mt. Albert, ON Ford 327; 3. #33 Neil Fair / Ancaster, ON Intrepid 292; 4. #37 DJ Kennington / St. Thomas, ON Intrepid 285; 5. #19 Brad Graham / Glencoe, ON Pontiac 284; 6. #64 Mark Dilley / Barrie, ON Intrepid 282; 7. #14 John Fitzpatrick / Ayr, ON Chevrolet 271; 8. #25 Jim Lapcevich / Hamilton, ON Chevrolet 258; 9. #22 Scott Steckly / Milverton, ON Pontiac 256; 10. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. / Windsor, ON Intrepid 256; 11. #86 Kenny Forth / Lynden, ON Ford 248; 11. #93 Joe Goncalves / Concord, ON Chevrolet 248; 13. #10 Doug Brown / Brantford, ON Pontiac 242; 14. #41 John Tsoumaris / Toronto, ON Chevrolet 238; 15. #24 Cole Pearn / Mt. Brydges, ON Chevrolet 234; 16. #56 R Jim Bray / Brantford, ON Chevrolet 228; 17. #71 R Bryan Cathcart / Peterborough, ON Intrepid 224; 18. #43 Bob Merrifield / Belle River, ON Intrepid 220; 19. #00 Billy Innes / Simcoe, ON Chevrolet 220; 20. #32 Mike Alguire / London, ON Pontiac 218; 21. #88 Dave Jacombs / Mt. Hope, ON Ford 214; 22. #1 Peter Gibbons / Stouffville, ON Chevrolet 207; 23. #7 Sean Dupuis / Windsor, ON Chevrolet 204; 24. #39 Dave Whitlock / Petrolia, ON Intrepid 164; 25. #77 Pete Vanderwyst / London, ON Pontiac 148; 26. #55 R Rob Graham / Bothwell, ON Chevrolet 130; 27. #01 Steve Munro / Carp, ON Chevrolet 120; 28. #44 Marv Wilder / Toronto, ON Ford 112; 29. #94 Mark Graham / Odessa, ON Chevrolet 110; 30. #28 Steve Robblee / Dorchester, ON Ford 108; 31. #81 Doug Day / Waterloo, ON Ford 102; 32. #52 R Ron Sheridan / Strathroy, ON Pontiac 94; 33. #91 Doug Day / Waterloo, ON Chevrolet 92; 34. #5 Nik Lapcevich / Hamilton, ON Chevrolet 88; 35. #46 Kevin Trevellin / LaSalle, ON Ford 20

CASCAR EMCO WESTERN SERIES: POINT STANDINGS AFTER TWO EVENTS: 1. #35 Kevin Dowler / Edmonton, AB Ford 349 points; 2. #09 Trevor Seibert / Williams Lake, BC Ford 322; 3. #12 Ron Larson / Quesnel, BC Chevrolet 311; 4. #21 Wade Lee / Calgary, AB Ford 303; 5. #71 Daryl Harr / Edmonton, AB Chevrolet 279; 6. #2 Carl Harr / St. Albert, AB Chevrolet 275; 7. #33 Don Sales / Quesnel, BC Pontiac 275; 8. #6 Todd Nichol / St. Albert, AB Chevrolet 271; 9. #14 James VanDomselaar / Fort Sask., AB Pontiac 264; 10. #30 Derek Polack / Stony Plain, AB Chevrolet 257; 11. #89 Terry Dowler / Spruce Grove, AB Chevrolet 257; 12. #38 Jim White / Kamloops, BC Chevrolet 257; 13. #81 James Ward / Kelowna, BC Ford 249; 14. #74 Dennis Masse / Lethbridge, AB Chevrolet 234; 15. #64 Chris Shirley / Saskatoon, SK Chevrolet 162; 16. #15 Mike Browne / Calgary, AB Pontiac 140; 17. #95 Paul Savoie / Saskatoon, SK Intrepid 139; 18. #72 Anthony Pallister / Victoria, BC Chevrolet 133; 19. #43 Michael Lindsay / Kamloops, BC Chevrolet 129; 20. #22 Bill Dawson / Salmon Arm, BC Pontiac 124; 21. #47 Craig Matlock / Saskatoon, SK Chevrolet 123; 22. #34 Darren Turner / Kelowna, BC Chevrolet 121; 23. #5 Allan Deibert / Rosetown, SK Dodge 119; 24. #93 Charlie Kirton / Saskatoon, SK Ford 118; 25. #4 Shane Charlton / Kelowna, BC Ford 117; 26. #77 Gil Gillett / Kelowna, BC Ford 114; 27. #11 James MacFarlane / Calgary, AB Ford 112; 28. #48 Nathan Weenk / Saskatoon, SK Chevrolet 112; 29. #37 Perry Woloshin / Regina, SK Chevrolet 110; 30. #27 Mark Derks / Calgary, AB Chevrolet 106

CASCAR CARQUEST SPORTSMAN SERIES: POINT STANDINGS AFTER ONE EVENT: 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven / Kerwood, ON 91 points; 2. #52 Ron Sheridan / Strathroy ON, 86; 3. #3 Scott Lindsay / St. Mary's, ON 79; 3. #55 Rob Graham / Bothwell, ON 79; 5. #42 Doug Stewart / London, ON 78; 6. #76 R Jason Hathaway / St. Thomas, ON 76; 7. #28 Steve Robblee / Dorchester, ON 73; 8. #43 Jay Doerr / London, ON 72; 9. #00 Josh Wood / London, ON 71; 10. #03 Jesse Kennedy / Southwold, ON 70; 11. #45 Duke Sawchuk / Emeryville, ON 67; 12. #24 Bob MacDonald / Woodstock, ON 66; 13. #35 Mark Hickson / Lucan, ON 64; 14. #80 Mike Hryniuk / LaSalle, ON 63; 15. #7 Jerry Marinuk / Scotland, ON 62; 16. #44 R Jodi Merrifield / Windsor, ON 61; 17. #23 Andrew Thompson / Komoka, ON 60; 18. #67 Scott Mitchell / St. Catharines, ON 58; 19. #12 Mark Patrick / Delaware, ON 57; 20. #02 Scott O'Connor / Delaware, ON 56; 21. #10 Doug Brown / Brantford, ON 55; 21. #5 Jay Christie / Beachville, ON 55

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