Dobson and Crompton Split the Weekend's STCC Races in Toronto
28 July 1997
Dodge driver Dominic Dobson and Honda driver Neil Crompton split the two Super Touring Car Championship races at Toronto this past week-end. For Dobson the victory in race #1 ended a victory drought that had lasted over the past four races. For Crompton, who last won in the season opener in Long Beach, the victory was a much-needed boost for his chase of the championship. The split manufacturer's victories continued a trend that has now lasted at the last three venues (Portland, Cleveland and Toronto).The qualifying sessions for the two races were changed from the usual format of two separate sessions. The qualifying positions for race #2 were determined by the fastest laps turned in during race #1. The idea being to create a race within a race.
Dobson turned in the quickest time for session #1 with a time of 1:15.607 for a speed of 81.944mph. Peter Cunningham was second quickest with a time of 1:15.624 for a speed of 81.926mph. The 17/1000's of a second, razor thin margin was the closest of the season during qualifying this year. The close times in the qualifying session were a precursor of things to come.
Eleven cars took the green flag on the tight and narrow 1.721 mile circuit. Pole-sitter Dobson bobbled his start and by turn two was passed Peter Cunningham. However, as luck would have it, Dobson re-took the lead at the start/finish line as both drivers raced for the lead, when a yellow flag was brought out for Desire' Wilson's accident on the front straight. Six laps later the field was turned loose once again. The running order of the top six was Dobson, Cunningham, Donohue, Crompton, Pobst and Law. For the next 11 laps Dobson dominated the lead. Cunningham, Donohue and Crompton seemed to be having there own race within a race. The three swapped positions four times during the last 11 laps. Crompton, biding his time in fourth place picked off Donohue on lap 13. Two laps later, in almost the same place as his pass of Donohue, Crompton passed Cunningham to secure second place. Crompton's agressive style not only awarded him second place but also gave him pole position in the second race by posting the fastest lap. Cunningham and Donohue slugged it out for third and fourth with Cunningham eventually coming home third. Darren Law won the Independent's Challenge with a great fifth place finish.
Race #2 saw Crompton on pole position by virtue of his fastest lap in race #1. Dobson was outside row 1. Cunningham and Donohue made up row 2. The race quickly became a parade of the top four as Crompton led every one of the 20 laps. Dobson, Cunningham and Donohue tried everything but Crompton's car was, as they say, "hooked up" for this tight circuit. Dobson took second, Cunningham third and Donohue fourth. The most impressive drive of the race, aside from Crompton's, was that of Ford driver David Welch. Starting from fifth place, Welch lost two positions early in the race to Darren Law and Randy Pobst. Welch battled back to take fifth place over-all and first in the Independent's Challenge.
David Treffer -- The Auto Channel
Results Race #1 Driver Marque Laps Qualified ------------------------------------------------ 1)Dominic Dobson Dodge 18 1 2)Neil Crompton Honda 18 4 3)Peter Cunningham Honda 18 2 4)David Donohue Dodge 18 3 5)Darren Law* BMW 18 7 6)David Welch Ford 18 5 7)Randy Pobst BMW 18 6 8)Bob Schader Mazda 18 8 9)Roberto Quintanilla Honda 18 11 10)Doug Beatty, Jr. BMW 1 10 11)Desire'Wilson Mazda 1 9 Margin of Victory:1.44 seconds Fastest Race Lap:Neil Crompton Lap Leaders:Cunningham 1, Dobson 2-18 *Independent's Challenge Winner:Darren Law Results Race #2 Driver Marque Laps Qualified ------------------------------------------------ 1)Neil Crompton Honda 20 1 2)Dominic Dobson Dodge 20 2 3)Peter Cunningham Honda 20 3 4)David Donohue Dodge 20 4 5)David Welch* Ford 20 7 6)Darren Law BMW 20 6 7)Randy Pobst BMW 20 5 8)Roberto Quintanilla Honda 19 9 9)Bob Schader Mazda 13 8 10)Doug Beatty, Jr. BMW 1 10 11)Desire' Wilson Mazda 0 11 (DNS) Margin of Victory:2.839 seconds Fastest Race Lap:Peter Cunningham Lap Leaders:Crompton 1-20 *Independent's Challenge Winner:David Welch Championship Standings Driver Marque Points Previous Standing ------------------------------------------------------- 1)David Donohue Dodge 194 1 2)Peter Cunningham Honda 188 2 3)Dominic Dobson Dodge 169 3 4)Neil Crompton Honda 160 4 5)Randy Pobst* BMW 135 5 6)Bob Schader Mazda 127 6 7)Darren Law BMW 115 7 8)David Welch Ford 89 8 9)Forrest Grandlund Honda 64 9 10)Mark Jonak BMW 36 10 11)Rod Millen Toyota 26 11 12)Tom Finnelly BMW 24 12 13)Desire'Wilson Mazda 18 13 14)Roberto Quintanilla Honda 17 Not Listed 15)Walt Puckett Mazda 11 14 Manufacturer's Challenge Honda-217 Dodge-206 Toyota-26 *Independent's Challenge Leader-Randy Pobst Next Race-Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH Aug 8-10
