Thomson wins the ‘Berms R Us presents the Clarington 200’ CASCAR Super Series race at Mosport Int’l Raceway
OSHAWA, ON – Four-time and reigning CASCAR Super Series National champion Don Thomson Jr. took a big step toward his ‘drive for five’ with a win in the Berms R Us presents the Clarington 200 on Sunday afternoon at Mosport International Raceway.
The Home Hardware Chevy driver started on the outside of the front row and led the entire second half of the 51-lap chase around the 10-turn Mosport road course. Thomson pitted while leading on lap 16 and recovered several positions as the rest of the racers eventually made their stops.
The Hamilton, ON driver last won at the legendary Mosport road course in 1991; his rookie year in CASCAR racing. With the victory, Thomson moved past Ron Beauchamp Jr. to take the Super Series points lead following three events.
“This year, our early pit stop strategy worked,” beamed Thomson, in victory lane. “We thought that if we came in early, we would be in front by the time everyone else made their stops because it’s really tough coming back through traffic.”
CASCAR’s formerly undisputed ‘king of the road courses’, Jeff Lapcevich, finished second at Mosport. The Fastline / Tim Hortons / EMCEA Transport Chevy driver could run with Thomson in the final half of the event, but couldn’t mount an effective challenge for the lead.
Lapcevich’s runner-up result ended a lengthy string of CASCAR road course victories for the Caistor Centre, ON racer, dating back to 2003.
The final podium position went to sophomore Super Series racer J.R. Fitzpatrick; one of Thomson’s two teammates in the Fitzpatrick Motorsports stable. The young driver kept his cool in the late going, while running fifth, and moved into his first Super Series podium spot when Peter Gibbons and Kerry Micks (PowerWater Ford), who were battling for third-place with just two laps remaining, went off together in turn 8. The incident opened the door for young Fitzpatrick’s best-ever Super Series result.
Gibbons was able to recover for a fourth-place finish in his Canadian Tire Chevy. He posted the fastest lap of the race (1:27.216), on lap 42, to earn a cash award from Goodyear Belts & Hoses.
Next across the line was Jim Lapcevich (Fastline / EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevrolet), in front of Mark Dilley (PowerWater / Exide / Mobil 1 Dodge Charger), Ron Beauchamp Jr. (MOPAR / Exide / Mobil 1 Dodge Charger) and Brad Graham (Challenger / Logel’s Dodge), who finished eighth.
The next CASCAR Super Series race takes place in two weeks (July 1-3) at Barrie Speedway. The newly-reconfigured track will host several racing events during the Canada Day Weekend, leading up to the Dodge Charger 300 presented by the Dodge Dealers of Ontario, on Sunday, July 3.
CASCAR ON TV: 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.
CASCAR Super Series
RESULTS: Berms R Us presents the Clarington 200
Round #3 of 12 // June 19, 2005 // Mosport Int’l Raceway
Oshawa, ON // 51 Laps // 10-turn road course
FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR / MAKE LAPS
1 2 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
2 5 23 Jeff Lapcevich (Caistor Centre, ON) Fastline / Tim Hortons / EMCEA Transport Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
3 3 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
4 1 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) Canadian Tire Corporation Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
5 12 25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton, ON) Fastline / EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
6 8 9 Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON) PowerWater / Dodge / Mobil 1 / Exide Dodge Charger 51
7 6 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON) MOPAR Parts / Exide / Mobil 1 Dodge Charger 51
8 11 19 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON) Challenger Motor Frt. / Logel’s Dodge Charger 51
9 14 39 Dave Whitlock (Wyoming, ON) Avenue Motor Works / NMT Dodge 51
10 13 0 Howie Scannell Jr. (Milton, ON) Scannell Moving & Storage Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
11 17 14 John Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Latta Cranes Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
12 16 20 Mark Swain (Port Perry, ON) Nighthawk Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
13 22 82 Dave Connelly (Arnprior, ON) Vector Chevrolet Monte Carlo 51
14 4 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON) PowerWater Ford Taurus 50
15 21 71 Bryan Cathcart (Peterborough, ON) Meyers Transport / Peterborough Homes Dodge 50
16 24 3 Stu Robinson Jr. (Holland Landing, ON) Snap-On Tools Dodge 50
17 27 44 Marv Wilder (Toronto, ON) Longbow Freight Systems Ford Taurus 50
18 30 37 Tara MacLeod (Innisfil, ON) R Central Merchant Services Ford Taurus 49
19 18 88 Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope, ON) Lou’s BBQ Ford Taurus 49
20 31 43 Bob Merrifield (Belle River, ON) Team Remax Preferred Realty Windsor Dodge 49
21 32 18 Chad McGlynn (Petersburg, ON) R Awesome Racewear / Ultimate Garage Ford Taurus 49
22 7 17 DJ Kennington (St. Thomas, ON) Castrol Canada Dodge 48
23 9 8 Marc Miller (Holland, MI) Carhartt Clothing Dodge 45
24 15 93 Joe Goncalves (Concord, ON) Bolt-On Performance Chevrolet Monte Carlo 41
25 19 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON) International / ERB Group Pontiac Grand Prix 40
26 23 42 Sean Stafford (Springfield, ON) L.E. Walker / Mid-America Freight Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 37
27 29 94 Mark Graham (Odessa, ON) Motel 6 / Coca-Cola / Subway Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
28 33 99 Scott Watkins (Milton, ON) Chevrolet Monte Carlo 28
29 10 77 Derek Lynch (Warkworth, ON) R Berms R Us Dodge 24
30 20 11 Ron VanEs (Smithville, ON) Star Van Systems / All Cover Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
31 25 41 John Tsoumaris (Toronto, ON) John’s Unique Auto / Mama’s Pizza Chevrolet Monte Carlo 14
32 28 63 Lain Venditelli (St. Catharines, ON) R Nobel Biocare Ford Taurus 14
33 26 10 Doug Brown (Brantford, ON) NAPA / Autopro Chevrolet Monte Carlo 6
R after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.
TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 33 minutes and 59 seconds // MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.619 seconds // CAUTIONS: 3 for a total of 12 laps // LAP LEADERS: #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1-16), #02 Kerry Micks (17-18), #9 Mark Dilley (19-21), #1 Peter Gibbons (22-25), #4 Don Thomson Jr. (26-51).
CASCAR SUPER SERIES POINTS AS OF JUNE 19, 2005 (UNOFFICIAL TOP 15): 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (487 points); 2. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (460); 3. #9 Mark Dilley (436); 4. #1 Peter Gibbons (434); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock (433); 6. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (419); 7. #02 Kerry Micks (408); 8. #25 Jim Lapcevich (406); 9. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (403); 10. #14 John Fitzpatrick (400); 11. #88 Dave Jacombs (384); 11. #17 Kerry Micks (384); 13. #19 Brad Graham (380); 14. #71 Bryan Cathcart (362); 15. #42 Sean Stafford (348)
Contact CASCAR at (519) 641-1214 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.
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