Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin/OnPitRoad.com
With a close battle for the lead at the top of the standings, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series is set to put on a show this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. A mix of youth and experience will grace the road course in Bowmanville, Ontario as the series hopes to put on drama from top to bottom.
Experience sides with D.J. Kennington as he is the best bet, statistically, entering the weekend for any race fan. The St. Thomas, Ontario native has finished in the top-10 in each of his 12 starts, with 10 top-fives and a win – including a third in May. The driver of the No. 17 Castrol Edge Dodge is looking to get to victory lane after failing to win a race last season and thus far this year. He knows his team is capable of getting the job done as he noted with two top-fives and eight top-10s this season.
Speaking of victory lane, Jason Hathaway scored the win last September at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for his first career road course victory. The Uxbridge, Ontario driver is looking to get back to victory lane this weekend as the season has been a struggle with bad luck around each corner for the organization. However, he enters this weekend some mometum after a podium finish at Riverside Speedway.
Last year’s series champion Scott Steckly will not be behind the wheel this weekend, but the 22 Racing team has a full fleet of drivers in the field.
Alex Tagliani will be looking to put the No. 18 EPIPEN/Riobel/CanTourque/440 Lavel Chevrolet in victory lane for the fourth time this season after posting eight top-six finishes in nine races this season.
Kaz Grala will be behind the wheel of Steckly’s familiar No. 22 Dodge for the second time this year after racing the season opener in May. Grala didn’t have the race he wanted, crossing the finish line in the 20th spot. He’s known to have success, though, as he finished 10th in the Camping World Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway.
Brett Taylor will making his third career series start this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 46 Hard Knocks Fighting Championship/Redtree Inc. Dodge. So far, things haven’t gone to plan with a pair of finishes outside of the top-15. Notably, the Calgary, Alberta native was named Rookie of the year from the CACC – Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs for the 2015 season.
2014 Series Champion L.P. Dumoulin will be in the field, once again driving the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare/Eibach Dodge and knows his way around CTMP. He has two wins and six top-fives in nine starts. He’s been successful thus far this year, currently sitting fourth in the series standings.
Cayden Lapcevich enters this weekend as the points leader, 12 points ahead of Andrew Ranger following his second career victory in Nova Scotia. The 2014 and 2015 Sunset Speedway Super Stock Champion has impressed fans so far at CTMP, posting a top-10 last season despite starting last and a fourth place finish in May. However, Ranger won’t be one to lay over as he has ran well in the past at CTMP with three wins, six top-fives and nine top-10s in 11 starts. Oh, and the third win came in May.
Gary Klutt hopes to repeat last year’s success at CTMP as he scored his first career victory in May 2015 after Ranger and Steckly got together on the last lap. The Halton Hills, Ontario native has proven he can get the job done on the road course with four top-10s in six starts. Klutt needs a good run as the past two weeks have seen him finish outside of the top-10.
Robin Buck will make his third start of the season, driving the No. 1 Ontario Chrysler Dealers Advertising Assoc. Dodge. The Milton, Ontario native has 11 previous starts on the road course, posting four top-fives and eight top-10s – but notably missing victory lane each time.
J.F. Dumoulin will be behind the wheel of the Spectra Premium/Bernier Crepeau/Bellemare/MIA Dodge, hoping to score his fourth straight top-six finish on the Bowmanville, Ontario road course.
Kerry Micks hopes to return to his winning ways behind the wheel of the No. 02 Johnsonville / Leland/ Avenue Auto Parts Ford after posting a top-five earlier thi year in Toronto. The Mount Albert, Ontario native has done well at CTMP previously, posting five top-fives.
Anthony Simone looks to have a smooth weekend as thus far this season, things have been rocky with bad luck biting the team at each turn. The driver of the No. 95 Innovative Plumbing and Mechanical / Castrol Dodge hasn’t had much luck at CTMP, with six finishes outside of the top-20 to go with a second in 2009.
Alex Labbe will be behind the wheel of the No. 32 Can-Am/Kappa/Cyclops Gear/Lous BBQ Ford. The St. Albert, Quebec native impressed in May, scoring the pole en route to a fifth place finish.
Ryan Klutt hopes to find his first career top-10 this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 42 Legendary Motorcar Chevrolet after posting a best-finish of 11th in May 2015.
Kevin Lacroix looks for his CTMP bad luck to be behind him as the driver of the No. 74 Bumper to Bumper/Total/Lacroix Tuning/Go Fast Dodge has yet to have a smooth weekend at the road course. If things go his way, he has proven he can get the job done – as noted by winning at Trois-Rivieres earlier this year.
