Photo Credit; NASCAR
Following a clinic put on by Kevin Lacroix on the streets of Quebec, the Pinty’s Series is set for their annual trip out east to Nova Scotia for the Bumper to Bumper 300 at Riverside International Speedway.
Alex Tagliani enters this weekend with momentum following a top-six finish in each of his series starts this year, including three wins. The Lachenaie, Quebec native has never raced on the 0.33 mile oval, though, missing the event last year due to other racing commitments.
Kelly Admiraal is set to make his sixth series start and first on the eastern side of Canada. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native has posted a best finish of eighth – earlier this year in Edmonton – in his previous five starts. He’ll be joined in the field by Ian Admiraal, whose making his fifth series start. He has posted a best finish of 15th, coming in most recent start this year in Saskatoon.
The driver to watch in Nova Scotia is Mark Dilley, though. Statistically, the driver of the No. 02 Johnsonville/Leland/BDI/Avenue Auto Parts Ford has been the strongest out east, boosting an average finish of 4.9 with seven top-fives and nine top-10s in nine starts. The Barrie, Ontario native enters the weekend with momentum on the heels of three straight top-10 finishes, including a pair of fifths. Another favourite in Nova Scotia is hometown hero Donald Chisholm, whose making his first start of the season. The Antigonish, Nova Scotia native has always run well on the high-banked short oval, scoring five top-10s in nine starts, including the victory in 2014.
L.P. Dumoulin enters this weekend with momentum following three solid straight races. Notably, he has posted a top-10 in his last two starts in Nova Scotia.
Jason Hathaway could use a good run as he hasn’t had the best of luck lately, with five straight races outside of the top-10 after finishing second in points last year. The driver of the No. 3 Raybestos/Fast Eddie/Choko/HGC/DSI Chevrolet has six top-10s in nine starts in Nova Scotia, including a victory in 2013.
Alex Labbe enters this weekend with momentum following a pair of top-five finishes in the last two races, and was strong last year at Riverside with a runner-up finish. Meanwhile, Adam Martin is hoping for a strong run in his third series start after posting a top-five finish earlier this season at Sunset Speedway.
Following a runner-up finish, Andrew Ranger enters this weekend with a five point advantage over Cayden Lapcevich. Ranger knows his way around Nova Scotia with a top-five finish in his last two starts. Meanwhile, Lapcevich is making his first trip to the 0.333 mile oval – but should be considered someone to watch as he knows his way around high-banked ovals, given his success at Sunset Speedway in the series.
Halton Hills, Ontario native Gary Klutt hopes to run strong this weekend after finding himself with a wrecked racecar following the first lap this past weekend. Notably, he finished eighth in his first start in Nova Scotia.
Coming off a win this past weekend, Kevin Lacroix hopes to keep the momentum rolling through this weekend in his first trip out east.
Two-time series champion D.J. Kennington enters this weekend looking for his fourth straight top-10 finish following a ninth in Quebec. The driver of the No. 17 Castrol Edge Dodge has two wins and six top-fives in nine starts in Nova Scotia.
Dwayne Baker will be making his second start of the season, hoping to post a strong finish after running in the top-five for the majority of the Sunset Speedway race in June. Notably, he finished 15th last year in his first trip out east.
There will also be a new driver in the field this weekend as Waylon Farrell makes his series debut, driving the No. 46 Farrell’s Excavating Dodge for 22 Racing. Notably, 22 Racing won the race last season with four-time series champion Scott Steckly behind the wheel.
