Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Alex Labbe is once again showing speed this year at Autodrome Chaudiere.
After winning the pole and leading 109 laps en route to a runner-up finish last year, the Quebec native topped the practice chart with a lap of 12.936 seconds. Notably, his time is under the track record set by Steve Mathews at 13.109 seconds. Labbe is hoping to rebound following a 15th place finish at Sunset Speedway.
Cayden Lapcevich, who is currently tied for the points standings lead with Andrew Ranger, was second quickest with a lap of 13.005 seconds. Lapcevich originally wasn’t supposed to run Chaudiere this year till a late-race sponsorship deal came together from Ohsweken Speedway last night to allow the Fastline Motorsports team to go. Lapcevich has started off this year with finishes of fourth and second in the first two races.
“Chaudiere was kind of an eleventh-hour decision for us,” laughed Lapcevich. “Sunset definitely played a big part in us being able to get there. I can’t thank my family, our sponsors and our team enough for making this happen. They’ve given me the opportunity – now I’m just hoping to turn it into something.”
Donald Theetge was third quickest (13.028) as he makes his third career NASCAR Pinty’s Series start this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 22 AIM Levis/Le Soleil/L’Antidote Dodge for defending series champion Scott Steckly’s 22 Racing team. Notably, his last series start came in 2011. While it’s questionable as to how the driver will do, the equipment he’s in is proven as Steckly led a race-high 154 laps last year before mechanical issues.
D.J. Kennington was fourth quickest (13.090) and looks to carry forward a solid start to 2016 following a third place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and a sixth at Sunset. The St. Thomas, Ontario native has done well at Chaudiere in the past, scoring a third place finish last season.
L.P. Dumoulin rounded out the top-five (13.126) as he hopes to improve on the pair of 12ths he has posted to start the year. This could be the perfect weekend for him as he’s posted a top-10 in each of his previous Chaudiere starts, highlighted by a fifth in 2014.
Sunset Speedway race winner Alex Tagliani was sixth, followed by Mark Dilley, Andrew Ranger, David Michaud and Gary Klutt. Jason Hathaway, whose won both previous races at Chaudiere, was 11th quickest.
