2019-06-03

THEETGE HAS FAST CAR BUT DISAPPOINTING FINISH AT JUKASA

Theetge Has Fast Car But Disappointing Finish at Jukasa

THEETGE HAS FAST CAR BUT DISAPPOINTING FINISH AT JUKASA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Hagersville, Ontario, Sunday June 2, 2019:    The NASCAR Pinty's Series took to the track for the second event in the 2019 season and first on an oval on Saturday. While practicing and qualifying took place as scheduled at Jukasa Motor Speedway, rain forced the cancellation of the main event on Saturday evening.  NASCAR re-scheduled the 200 lap event for Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
 
Theetge driver of the #24 Mercedes-Benz St Nicolas/Circuit Acura Chevrolet was happy with the car in practice just wanting a few adjustments.  "I was really happy with our test here at Jukasa and the car was very good today right off the trailer," said Theetge.  "Just some minor changes nothing too much needed to be done."
 
Qualifying took place later in the afternoon  and Theetge timed in 4thquickest giving him the outside line in row two to start the race.
 
At the drop of the green flag for the APC 200 Theetge dropped back to 5thand then got into single file line.  But it wasn't long until the #24 entry started moving forward.  On lap seventy-three he moved into the lead, a position he would hold onto until pitting for tires under caution on lap ninety-seven.  Theetge restarted back in the field and continued to make his way to the front and while running in third place at lap 150, the motor slowed and developed a misfire.  He continued to fight to hold onto positions and finished a very disappointing 10th.  "I had an amazing car and team today," said a very disappointed Theetge.  "I love this track and run really great here and have finished 2nd twice – thought today was going to be our day as we ran with the leaders until we had issues.  On a positive note though we are going to Autodrome Chaudiere next, a track I know very well and like so we will try to challenge for the win there instead."
 
The APC200 will air on TSN on Sunday June 8th at 12 p.m. ET and on RDS2 on Sunday June 23rd at 6:30 p.m. ET
 
Next on the schedule for the NASCAR Pinty's Series is Autodrome Chaudiere in Valle-Jonction Quebec on Saturday June 29th.
 
About Donald Theetge
Donald Theetge is 52-years old and owns 3 dealerships with his brother in Quebec City.  He has been a stock car driver for more than 30 years, from Boischatel Quebec, he has four championship wins in LMS series career. He has raced in Canada and the United States winning more than twenty ACT and Castrol series races, setting him apart from his opponents. He won his first NASCAR race at Wyant Group Raceway in Saskatoon.
 
Donald Theetge is supported by the following sponsors:  Mercedes-Benz St Nicolas, Circuit Acura, Karousel, GaeVan Amenagement, Transport JTM, MRA Metaux Angers, XPN World, Erb Transport, Castrol, AW Millwrights & Wilride.
 
Photo Credit:  Jerry Hall


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

2019 Could be Steve Powell’s Breakthrough Racing Season

2019 Could be Steve Powell's Breakthrough Racing Season

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


Most local racers begin their career in an entry level division, then advance through the ranks as their confidence builds and their skills develop. Steve Powell chose a different path, starting his vocation in the headline Late Model ranks at Peterborough Speedway. From an inexperienced rookie back in 2016, Powell has gained poise and self-assurance to the point of becoming one of the Central Ontario raceway's drivers to watch just 3 years later.


The 43-year-old Millbrook, Ontario native has surrounded himself with some of the best known names the area has available to assist with his racing development. Combined with the seat-of-the-pants knowledge he was able to acquire on a week-to-week basis, Powell was able to bring his #72 machine home with a 3rd place finish in the final 2018 point standings. Even with that level of success, the driver says he'll never stop learning and trying to make things better.


"I've been very lucky to have some good friends like Dave and Derek Lynch working with me throughout my career. They're great when it comes to set-up ideas and suggesting changes we can make. They've likely forgotten more than most people will ever know about Peterborough Speedway," Steve Powell said. "We have a very competitive field in the Late Model division, but its also a closely knit group. For the most part, everyone seems to get along and is always willing to help someone out."


At the Saturday, May 18th season opener, Powell showed-up with a fresh, new look to his equipment. During practice, he put the piece through its paces, turning some solid laps around the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, looking for the comfort level that would lead to a solid start to the 2019 schedule. The team's hard work obviously paid-off, as the driver scored the first checkered flag of his career during the night's opening heat race. Even though things didn't go exactly as planned – with the car loaded into the hauler before the feature event – Powell was still pleased with the way his season got rolling.


"Picking-up my first ever racing win with a new car on the opening night of the year was a real shot in the arm for our team," Powell said. "The car felt great during the pre-race practice sessions and I had a good feeling of how the night could go. It's a long season and we have some excellent notes to build on. I can't wait to get back on the track to see if we can take care of some unfinished business."


Steve Powell offers special thanks to his girlfriend Jamie-Lynn Hayes for her support and encouragement. In the shop and at the track, the car is prepared and maintained by Blain and Isaac Delyea and the driver's father, Brad Powell. To keep up-to-date with the team's progress during the year, head to www.peterboroughspeedway.com.


For the 2019 season, #72 Late Model program is proudly backed by M & C Hydraulics, Cooper Glass, Custom Mobile Wash, J.J. Stewart Motors, Webb Transmission and Dart Heating & Air Conditioning.


Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


Millbrook, Ontario native Steve Powell (#72) is looking to make his mark in the sport with a strong 2019 season in the Late Model division at Peterborough Speedway.


Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Andrew Ranger victorieux à Jukasa, prend la tête du classement dans la course au titre de la série NASCAR Pinty’s

Andrew Ranger victorieux à Jukasa, prend la tête du classement dans la course au titre de la série NASCAR Pinty's

 

Un weekend de domination pour le veteran.

 

Le pilote détenant le plus grand nombre de victoires en série NASCAR Pinty's a décroché sa 25e pole en carrière samedi (1er juin), avant de s'imposer lors du  APC 200 aujourd'hui (dimanche) au Jukasa Motor Speedway. Originalement prévue pour hier (samedi), la pluie a forcé la remise de la course à aujourd'hui. Le pilote de 32 ans, originaire de Roxton Pond (Québec) a mené 82 tours, un record pour cette course, en plus de porter son record à un total de 25 victoires en série NASCAR Pinty's.

 

Au 122e tour de piste, Ranger double Peter Shepherd III et prend la tête de la course à bord de sa Dodge MOPAR/Pennzoil n°27. Lors de deux relances en toute fin de course, Ranger a su refréner les attaques d'un Kevin Lacroix agressif et ainsi remporter sa première victoire depuis Toronto en 2018.

 

« Nous faisions partie des dix pilotes susceptibles de remporter cette course, et j'étais vraiment nerveux, » de dire Ranger. « J'ai décidé de relancer la course de la file intérieure en fin de course et ça a plutôt bien fonctionné pour nous, assez pour m'en sortir avec une belle victoire. »

 

Le vainqueur de la course de l'an dernier, Kevin Lacroix, a profité de la reprise tardive pour prendre la deuxième place. L'ordre d'arrivée est inversé par rapport à la course d'ouverture de la saison 2019 au Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), où Lacroix a su résister aux attaques de Ranger en fin de course.

 

« La voiture est toujours bonne sur les longs relais, et nous espérions un comportement identique aujourd'hui, et c'est ce qui s'est passé, » a avoué Lacroix. « On a pu faire une bonne course et maintenir la voiture Bumper to Bumper en deuxième position et c'est bien. »

 

Peter Shepherd III a livré la marchandise avec une troisième place bien méritée, menant 25 tours de piste en route vers son second podium depuis son retour à la série Pinty's la saison passée.

 

Louis-Philippe Dumoulin et Alex Tagliani complètent le top cinq.

 

Marc-Antoine Camirand et Mark Dilley ont tous les deux mené une remontée vers le groupe de tête en fin de course, terminant respectivement sixième et septième.

 

Après avoir mené 68 tours et malgré un pneu crevé en fin de course, DJ. Kennington a réussi à tirer son épingle du jeu en  terminant huitième. Jason White et Donald Theetge complètent le top dix.

 

Le 72e tour marque l'histoire de la série NASCAR Pinty's, alors que Julia Landauer devient la première femme de l'histoire de la série Pinty's à mener un tour en course. Landauer a su se maintenir avec le groupe de tête avant qu'un incident en fin de course ne la relègue au 15e rang.

 

Cette victoire permet à Ranger de prendre la tête du classement des pilotes, devançant Lacroix d'un point. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin se retrouve troisième au classement provisoire, 10 points derrière le meneur, alors qu'Alex Tagliani et D.J. Kennington sont à égalité pour la quatrième place, à 18 points du leader.

 

La série NASCAR Pinty's reviendra en piste le samedi 29 juin prochain, lors de la course Budweiser 300 à l'Autodrome Chaudière de Vallée-Jonction (Québec).


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Andrew Ranger wins at Jukasa, takes points standings lead

Andrew Ranger wins at Jukasa, takes points standings lead


For Andrew Ranger, it was weekend of dominance.

 

The NASCAR Pinty's Series winningest driver scored his 25th career pole Saturday before dominating the rain-delayed APC 200 at Jukasa Motor Speedway. The 32-year-old driver from Roxton Pond, Quebec led a race-high 82 laps, extending his series-leading win total to 25.

 

Ranger took his No.27 MOPAR/ Pennzoil Dodge to the lead on Lap 122, passing Peter Shepherd III. After surviving two late restarts, Ranger held off a hard charging Kevin Lacroix in NASCAR Overtime to claim his first win since Toronto in 2018.

 

"You know, we were a top 10 driver that could win here so I was definitely nervous," Ranger said. "But again, we decided to do the restart on the inside and it worked pretty good for us and we exit here with a nice win."

 

Last year's race winner Kevin Lacroix used the late restart to his advantage to claim the runner-up spot. The finishing order was reversed from the season-opening race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where Lacroix held off Ranger.

 

"The car is always good on long runs and we were hoping for the same today and that's what happened," Lacroix said. "We were able to have a good race and put the Bumper to Bumper car in second place and that's good."

 

Peter Shepherd III ran a solid race leading 25 laps and scoring his second podium finish since his return to the series last year.

LP Dumoulin and Alex Tagliani rounded out the top five.

 

Marc-Antoine Camirand and Mark Dilley both pulled off last race charges to the front, coming home sixth and seventh, respectively.

After leading 68 laps, and despite blowing a tire late in the race, D.J. Kennington was able to fight back and finish eighth. Jason White and Donald Theetge completed the top ten.

 

Lap 72 will go down in NASCAR Pinty's Series history as the race leader upon completion was Julia Landauer. She becomes the first women to ever lead a lap in the NASCAR Pinty's Series. She ran up front throughout the race before a late-race incident left her 15th.

With his win, Ranger takes over the lead in the standings, leading Lacroix by one point.. ] LP Dumoulin is in third, 10 points back, and Alex Tagliani and D.J Kennington are tied for fourth, 18 points out of the lead.

 

The NASCAR Pinty's Series will take a few weeks off before returning to action Saturday, June 29 for the Budweiser 300 at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec.

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...