Tuesday, May 23, 2006-(Barrie, ON) – There are several characteristics that a
racing team needs to possess in order to compete for championships. One is the
ability to win races. Over the years, veteran racer Peter Gibbons has more than
demonstrated his prowess on that front.
Another equally critical component, however, is the ability to turn a long
afternoon into a solid result. Peter Gibbons did just that on Monday in the
season opening CASCAR Super Series race, at Barrie Speedway.
The driver of the #1 Canadian Tire / Monroe Brakes Chevy battled back from a
lap down to take seventh-place in the 22-car field. While the Stouffville, ON
racer is never completely satisfied with anything less than a victory, Gibbons’
tenacity was evident as he successfully fought to get his car back on the lead lap
and well within the top 10 in the final results.
Gibbons took the initial green flag on the inside of the sixth row after coming
home fifth in his 50-lap qualifying heat race on Saturday night at the 1/3-mile
Barrie oval. Prior to that, the veteran was seventh-fastest in time trials.
From the start of the 250-lap feature race on Monday – which was delayed by
inclement weather on Sunday – Gibbons paced himself in 11th place for the first
75 laps, until pitting to make adjustments on the Canadian Tire car. Gibbons had
a miscue in the pits and was forced to serve a mandatory ‘stop and go’ penalty.
And while he was never a contender for the win after that, Gibbons refused to
give up and used the remainder of the event to recover his lost lap en route to a
solid seventh-place finish.
Following Barrie, the two-time CASCAR Super Series National Champion turns
his attention to Race #2 on the schedule, on June 10 at Montreal’s Autodrome
St-Eustache. Gibbons has put on some memorable driving performances at the
flat 4/10th-mile oval over the years and he’s looking forward to racing there again
in two weeks.
“The guys have worked so hard on the car over the winter and I know we’ll have
it in shape to bounce back at St-Eustache,” said Gibbons, who is into his 10th
season as the driver of the Canadian Tire Chevy. “We’ve had a lot of great runs
there in the past and we enjoy going there because it suits our style of racing.”
RACE SUMMARY: CASCAR veteran Scott Steckly of Milverton, ON made his
first-ever visit to CASCAR’s victory lane, at Barrie Speedway on Monday. Steckly
took the lead during pit stops from five-time National champ Don Thomson, who
started on the pole and went on to finish second. J.R. Fitzpatrick was third.
Denise Gibbons
Gibbons Motorsports
905-640-2209
dgibbons1@msn.com