CASCAR MOPAR 500 Weekend: Twin 100s and Starting Grid

By Robert K. Rooney

DOWLER & MICKS WIN CENTENNIAL 100s

CALGARY, AB - The first two 100 lap races of the MOPAR PARTS 500 Weekend at Race City, the Centennial 100s, ended up with a pair of veterans taking the winners’ trophies in front of 3,615 fans.

In the Alberta Centennial 100, Ontario drivers Dave Whitlock (#39) ­ who will start on pole in tomorrow¹s 300-lapper) and Peter Gibbons (#1) battled for the entire race with Kevin Dowler of Sherwood Park (#35) making frequent challenges from third.

When Gibbons slipped coming off turn two on the last lap, Whitlock stuffed his Dodge¹s nose into the resulting gap at the bottom of the track. The two rubbed fenders all the way into turn three. When they slid high, Dowler leaped his EMCO #35 under them both and crossed the finish line a few feet ahead of Whitlock. Ron Beauchamp of Windsor, Ontario managed to nip around Gibbons for third.

In the Saskatchewan Centennial 100, Kerry Micks of Mount Albert, Ontario out-dragged Don Thompson of Hamilton, Ontario at the green flag and held off every challenge to take the win. Thompson was second and D. J. Kennington of St. Thomas was third.

Spectator gates open today at 1 p.m. for the MOPAR FanFest. The autograph session will be from 5pm to 6pm and driver introductions begin at 6:30. The MOPAR PARTS 300, Canada¹s biggest stock car race, begins at 7pm.

Friday's Results
Centennial Twin 100 Sprint Races
Alberta Centennial 100
(finish, start in parentheses, driver, hometown, car number, sponsor, make and model, and laps completed)
1. (6) Kevin Dowler, Sherwood Park, No. 35 EMCO Ford Taurus, 100; 2. (1) Dave Whitlock, Wyoming, Ont., No. 39 Avenue Motor Works/NMT Dodge Charger, 100; 3. (5) Ron Beauchamp Jr., Windsor, Ont., No. 60 MOPAR Parts/Exide Dodge Charger, 100; 4. (1) Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont., No. 1 Canadian Tire Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 5. (4) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., No. 84 Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 6. (2) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ont., No. 19 Challenger Motor Freight/Logel's Dodge Charger, 100; 7. (11) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., No. 22 Alltruck Int'l/ERB Group Pontiac Grand Prix, 100; 8. (8) Ron VanEs, Smithville, Ont., No. 11 Star Van Systems/AllCover Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 9. (7) Tara MacLeod, Innisfil, Ont., No. 37 Central Merchant Services Ford Taurus, 100; 10. (13) James VanDomselaar, Fort Saskatchewan, No. 44 South Fort Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100.

Saskatchewan Centennial 100
(driver, hometown, car number, sponsor, make and model, and laps completed)
1. (2) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., No. 02 Power Water/APX/Carstar Ford Taurus, 100; 2. (1) Don Thomson Jr., Hamilton, Ont., No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 3. (4) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., No. 17 Castrol Canada Dodge Charger, 100; 4. (3) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., No. 9 Dodge/Mobil 1/Exide/PowerWater Dodge Charger, 100; 5. (5) Pete Shepherd III, Brampton, Ont., No. 71 PowerWater Ford Taurus, 100; 6. (13) Wade Lee, Calgary, No. 79 James Western Star/Sun Valley Motor Speedway Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 7. (7) John Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., No. 14 Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 8. (12) Derek Polack, Stony Plain, No. 30 Bulldog Box Liners Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100; 9. (6) Dave Jacombs, Mt. Hope, Ont., No. 88 Lou's BBQ Ford Taurus, 99; 10. (8) Jim White, Kamloops, B.C., No. 36 Mopar Dodge Charger, 99.

CASCAR Super Series
Mopar Parts 300
Starting Grid
(spectator gates open at 1 p.m. for fanfest with live music, racing displays and CASCAR practice; autograph session at 3 p.m.; driver introductions at 6:30 p.m.; racing begins at 7 p.m.)
(driver, hometown, and car number, sponsor, make and model; x-qualified on pole via fastest lap of 17.714 seconds in time trials; y-qualified on outside pole via second-fastest lap of 17.720 seconds in time trials; z-starting position determined by finishing position in Friday's Alberta 100; a-starting position determined by finishing position in Friday's Saskatchewan 100; b-starting position determined by time trials; c-starting position determined by provisional)

x-1. Dave Whitlock, Wyoming, Ont., No. 39 Avenue Motor Works/NMT Dodge Charger; y-2. Don Thomson Jr., Hamilton, Ont., No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-3. 2005 - Kevin Dowler, Sherwood Park; Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont.; a-4. Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., No. 02 Power Water/APX/Carstar Ford Taurus; z-5. Ron Beauchamp Jr., Windsor, Ont., No. 60 MOPAR Parts/Exide Dodge Charger; a-6. D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., No. 17 Castrol Canada Dodge Charger; z-7. Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont., No. 1 Canadian Tire Chevrolet Monte Carlo; a-8. Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., No. 9 Dodge/Mobil 1/Exide/PowerWater Dodge Charger; z-9. J.R. Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., No. 84 Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet Monte Carlo; a-10. Pete Shepherd III, Brampton, Ont., No. 71 PowerWater Ford Taurus; z-11. Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ont., No. 19 Challenger Motor Freight/Logel's Dodge Charger; a-12. Wade Lee, Calgary, No. 79 James Western Star/Sun Valley Motor Speedway Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-13. Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., No. 22 Alltruck Int'l/ERB Group Pontiac Grand Prix; a-14. John Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., No. 14 Latta Crane Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-15. Ron VanEs, Smithville, Ont., No. 11 Star Van Lines Chevrolet Monte Carlo; a-16. Derek Polack, Stony Plain, No. 30 Bulldog Box Liners Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-17. Tara MacLeod, Innisfil, Ont., No. 37 Central Merchant Services Ford Taurus; a-18. Dave Jacombs, Mt. Hope, Ont., No. 88 Lou's BBQ Co. Ford Taurus; z-19. James VanDomselaar, Fort Saskatchewan, No. 44 South Fort Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte Carlo; a-20. Jim White, Kamloops, B.C., No. 36 Mopar Dodge Charger; z-21. Marc Miller, Holland, Mich., No. 8 Carhartt Clothing Dodge Charger; a-22. Doug Brown, Brantford, Ont., No. 10 NAPA/Autopro Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-23. Dennis Masse, Lethbridge, No. 74 Auto Value/Quaker State Dodge Charger; a-24. Jason White, Kamloops, B.C., No. 21 Zimmer Wheaton GM Chevrolet Monte Carlo; z-25. Stu Robinson Jr., Beaverton, Ont., No. 3 Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger; a-26. Todd Nichol, St Albert, No. 6 Pennzoil/Rocky Mountain Sales Chevrolet Monte Carlo; b-27. Mike Browne, Calgary, No. 15 Bartin Pipe/Waste Management Pontiac Grand Prix; b-28. James Ward, Kelowna, B.C., No. 87 Lordco Auto Parts Ford Taurus; c-29. Mark Derks, Calgary, No. 27 Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Chevrolet Monte Carlo; c-30. Shaun Polack, Stony Plain, No. 26 UniFirst Chevrolet Monte Carlo; c-31. Randy Kozek, Kelowna, B.C., No. 69 Ford Taurus; c-32. Scott Kessler, Calgary, No. 53 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.


CALGARY: Twin 100 Qualifying Race Winners
2005 - Kevin Dowler, Sherwood Park; Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont.
2004 - Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont.; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
2003 - D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont.; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
2002 - D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont.; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
2001 - Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont.; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
2000 - Neil Fair, Ancaster, Ont.; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
1999 - Wade Lee, Calgary; D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont.
1998 - Dan Shirley, Saskatoon; Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ont.
1997 - John Gaunt, Barrie, Ont.; Ted McIntyre, Windsor, Ont.
1996 - Dan Shirtliff, Huntsville, Ont.; Wade Lee, Calgary
1995 - Dan Shirtliff, Huntsville, Ont.; Kevin Dowler, Sherwood Park
1994 - Dan Shirtliff, Huntsville, Ont.; N/A

ALSTAR: Steve Tiemersma two-for-two in Shouldice ALSTAR outings at Delaware Speedway

LONDON, ON – Steve Tiemersma is hoping that it won’t be another three years before the Shouldice Designer Stone ALSTAR Late Model Series returns to Delaware Speedway. The Newmarket, ON won the last time the series visited the half-mile, London, ON-area oval in 2002, and he won again on Friday night, putting an end to a personal winless streak that dated back to his previous Delaware victory.

The driver of the #67 Aurora Automotive / Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Pontiac started sixth in the field of 20 who took part in the eighth ALSTAR feature race of the season. But by lap 12, he was up to second place. Four laps later, he was underneath early leader Jim Molenhuis and into the lead.
Following a yellow flag near lap 20 of the 75-lap chase, the event went green for more than 50 laps, during which time eventual runner-up Kyle Donaldson was able to close to within inches of Tiemersma on several occasions. But as the race wore on, the former ALSTAR champ put some distance between himself and the rookie Donaldson.
A caution with two laps to go bunched the field for a final sprint, but it wouldn’t change the outcome of the race. Tiemersma earned his second Shouldice ALSTAR feature win at Delaware Speedway and the fifth victory of his ALSTAR career. Meanwhile Donaldson’s Custom Engines Ford came home a respectable second after an impressive outing by the young star.
“We’ve been here twice and we won both times. This place is great,” said Tiemersma, who said his car was actually stronger in the heat races before some changes to the car actually slowed it down. “I think we have some more speed in her.”
The third and final podium spot went to Kirk Hooker from nearby Chatham, ON. The Country View Golf Course Chevy driver charged from 14th at the start to earn a top result at Delaware in front of many of his fans. Dan Delisle of LaSalle, ON was fourth.
Claiming the final top-five spot at the end was reigning ALSTAR champ and current points leader Robbie Thompson in his SMP / Logel’s Dodge. The Southampton, ON resident came from 18th at the initial green flag and when all was said and done, he boosted his points lead over Derrick Tiemersma by a single point in the championship chase. Tiemersma’s Wayfreight Pontiac was sixth at Delaware.
A pair of 15-lap heat races took place prior to Friday night’s 75-lap main event. Robbie Thompson won the first to bring his series-leading heat-race checkered flag total to seven for the season, while another former series champ, Jason Shaw, won the other sprint to collect his fifth heat win of ’05.
The next Shouldice ALSTAR Late Model Series race takes place on Saturday, July 30 at Sauble Speedway, just west of Owen Sound, Ontario. In terms of the overall title race, Thompson leads Derrick Tiemersma by 16 points as the racers prepare to start the final third of the 2005 Shouldice ALSTAR schedule.

Shouldice ALSTAR Late Model Series
RESULTS: Race #8 of 12 // Delaware Speedway // London, ON // July 22, ‘05 // 75 Laps

FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR / MAKE LAPS
1 6 67 Steve Tiemersma (Newmarket, ON) Aurora Automotive / Pennzoil 10 Min. Oil Change Pontiac 75
2 11 53 Kyle Donaldson (Queensville, ON) R Custom Engines / Downtown Rug & Flooring Ford 75
3 14 38 Kirk Hooker (Chatham, ON) Country View Golf Course / McColl’s / Golf Trends Chevrolet 75
4 17 1 Dan Delisle (Lasalle, ON) R www.KFC.ca / Charter House Printing / Morton Industrial Chevrolet 75
5 18 9 Robbie Thompson (Southampton, ON) Shear Metal Products / Logel’s Dodge 75
6 16 7 Derrick Tiemersma (Newmarket, ON) Wayfreight / Gates / Wix Chevrolet 75
7 13 72 Rob MacDonnell (Allenford, ON) MacDonnell Fuels / Siegrist Trucking Chevrolet 75
8 10 98 Michael Almand (Alton, ON) Alliston Transmission / Finish Line Graphics Chevrolet 75
9 7 57 Brett Murray (Minesing, ON) Videoflicks / Cardwell Signs Ford 75
10 15 76 Tyler Williams (Chesley, ON) B&L Farm Services / Hank’s Auto Wreckers Ford 75
11 9 82 Jason Shaw (Guelph, ON) Spira Fire Protection / Del Metals Ford 75
12 12 22 Glenn Watson (Barrie, ON) Racing Radios / Rival Office Solutions / Top Shops Chevrolet 75
13 5 11 Chris Morrow (Minesing, ON) Morrow Electric / Edenvale Flying Club Chevrolet 75
14 4 69 Alan Inglis (Mississauga, ON) National Moving & Storage Dodge 74
15 8 4 Craig Zurbrigg (Listowel, ON) Benshaw Motor Controls / Trinity Village Health Care Ford 73
16 19 93 Tim Cole (Courtice, ON) Oshawa Office Equipment / Kwik Signs Chevrolet 73
17 1 42 Richard Holmes (Hillsburgh, ON) Gormac Roofing / Astro Automotive Ford 73
18 20 8 Andrew Gresel (Sauble, ON) R Sauble Fall’s Tent & Trailer Park / H&H Patio Encl. Chevrolet 71
19 3 75 Jeff Cassidy (Cambridge, ON) Highway Sterling – Western Star Ford 70
20 2 30 Jim Molenhuis (Churchill, ON) R.E.V. Mobile Audio / Performance Chevrolet 29
21 21 23 Steve Thompson (Drayton, ON) Conway Furniture / Priebe Engineering Chevrolet DNS

R after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.
TIME OF RACE: 48 minutes // CAUTIONS: 3 // LAP LEADERS: #30 Jim Molenhuis (1-16) and #67 Steve Tiemersma (17-75) // HEAT WINS: #82 Jason Shaw & #9 Robbie Thompson // MOST LAPS LED: #67 Steve Tiemersma // SPIRA HARD CHARGER AWARD: #1 Dan Delisle // INSIDE TRACK MYSTERY POSITION AWARD: #72 Rob MacDonnell // CRC TOP 5: #67 Derrick Tiemersma, #53 Kyle Donaldson, #38 Kirk Hooker, #1 Dan Delisle, #9 Robbie Thompson // 69 AUTO WHEEL AWARD: #57 Brett Murray // HOOSIER TIRE AWARD: #53 Kyle Donaldson

Contact ALSTAR at (519) 371-7588 or visit www.alstarseries.com
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.