Lapcevich wins CASCAR Canadian Tire 100 at Vancouver Molson Indy

VANCOUVER, BC – July 26 04: Dave Whitlock had a mirror full of Mark Dilley for most of the 35 laps at Vancouver’s 12-turn temporary street circuit at Concord Pacific Place. Dilley quickly moved his NTN Bearings Dodge from his 12^th place starting position to catch Whitlock, who had taken his Avenue / NMT Dodge from 9^th to 7^th . From thereon, the team-mates kept the field in sight but were never able to improve on their positions.

"We had hoped for a top-five today but with the two short cautions, the field was bunched up" said Whitlock. "It’s just so hard to pass with these cars here; it’s a tight course. And even though our program has improved significantly this year, so has everyone else. All the guys are doing a great job when you consider out of both the Vancouver and Toronto races, there were only two cautions for a total of 4 laps."

Jeff Lapcevich did not disappoint anyone as his Tim Horton’s / Fastline Chevy led all 35 laps to claim his unprecedented 5^th consecutive road course title. But it was not without a serious challenge from 2^nd place finisher Don Thomson Jr. who gave it his all but came up just a bit short. Kerry Micks made a late pass on Peter Gibbons to claim the final podium position in his Power Water Ford.

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On TV, see the CASCAR 100 Super Series race from the Toronto Indy

Glenn Mueller of Richmond BC had a decent 16^th place qualifying run in his Whitlock Motorsports prepared Green Line Hose and Fittings Dodge but a cut tire sent him into the wall ending his day at lap 23.

Now that this final road course event of the 04 season is in the books, Dave Whitlock and Mark Dilley look forward to returning to oval tracks, and especially to the next event at Calgary’s Race City. Dilley dominated the whole event last year only to be tagged by a lapped car putting him out of contention. Fortunately, Dave Whitlock had put himself into a comfortable second at the time and came home the race winner.

On the CASCAR National Points scene, Whitlock now sits in third, tied with Jeff Lapcevich – and only 37 behind points leader Gibbons. Thomson is in the middle only 15 back. Dilley is in 6^th place, 122 out of first but 54 back of 5^th.  

Monday, Aug. 2 on SPORTSNET (ONTARIO & EAST) at 7:00 p.m.