LA DERNIÈRE NASCAR PINTY'S DE 2019
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 2, 2019) – NASCAR and ARCA announced today a new championship format for 2020 that will see the continuation of three historic regional championship series and the coronation of a new fourth champion, all under the ARCA Menards Series banner.
The series provide an integral development step for young drivers who aspire to move up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series; as well as a highly-competitive professional level for short-track veterans.
They will also provide continuity to three of the longest running high-level regional stock car series in the United States.
The four championships will be:
· ARCA Menards Series – The 20-race ARCA Menards Series, founded in 1953, a mix of national-series combination events at venues such as Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as short tracks like Madison International Speedway in Wisconsin and the Illinois and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile dirt tracks.
· ARCA Racing Series Showdown – Ten races within the larger ARCA Menards Series championship will feature the best of the three series coming together to crown a Showdown champion.
"We cannot be more excited about 2020," said Brandon Thompson, Managing Director, NASCAR Touring Series. "Both NASCAR and ARCA have worked extremely hard over the last year to provide a rules package and schedule that will serve as the foundation for the preeminent series for racing at this level. It was important for us to move the series forward while creating an environment inclusive for both the current long-term owners and drivers in the series as well as aspiring competitors."
"What first started as a friendship between Bill France Sr. and John Marcum nearly 70 years ago took a momentous step forward today," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "The amount of history and tradition these series are bringing together to form four elite championships for drivers is an amazing testament to the strength of this sport.
"We are proud and honored to be able to bring the ARCA sanction to the East and West Series; and we are looking forward to working with the race teams, tracks, media partners, fans, and sponsors that have helped those series achieve their long term success."
NASCAR also announced if an East, West or current ARCA Menards Series car owner has a car that meets the 2019 rulebook, there will be a rules package that will allow them to compete in 2020.
"We're pleased that we're able to extend our racing sponsorships to include the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West," said Menards President & CEO John Menard. "We hope that race fans throughout the country will further enjoy great racing action while also becoming familiar with the Menards brand by shopping at our home improvement stores located in the Midwest or at Menards.com".
ARCA and MAVTV also announced today an extension of its telecast rights agreement for select ARCA Menards Series races. This important partnership, together with events covered by FOX Sports, ensures that all 20 ARCA Menards Series races will be available live to race fans, including the 10-race Showdown. NBCSN will continue to carry the ARCA Menards Series East and West as part of their extensive NASCAR coverage.
The 2020 ARCA Menards Series will officially begin on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Daytona with the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire. It will mark the 57th annual ARCA visit to Daytona.
The Showdown will take the green flag with ARCA's inaugural visit to ISM Raceway on March 6 as part of the national series' event weekend in Phoenix, while the West will kick off the Las Vegas weekend with a return to the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
West dates also include traditional events at Irwindale Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.,, and will crown its champion at ISM Raceway in November. The East will race at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, as well as Toledo Speedway, Watkins Glen International, and again be part New Hampshire Motor Speedway's annual Full Throttle Fall Weekend. The East season will culminate with the championship race at Dover International Speedway.
In addition to Daytona and Charlotte, the ARCA Menards Series schedule will include Talladega Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway and Pocono Raceway, and finish the season at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 16.
The Showdown 10-race schedule features Salem Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Minnesota's Elko Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, and will crown its first Showdown champion at Memphis Motorsports Park on Sept. 26.
Complete schedules for all four championships will be announced shortly.
The slate of races across the country provide an opportunity for drivers to focus on their regional championships or expand their racing plans and chase bigger prizes.
Jason Christley
NASCAR Communications
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2.10.19
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Il a été presque impossible de séparer Andrew Ranger et Kevin Lacroix tout au long de la saison 2019.
Les deux pilotes ont échangé les points pour le titre depuis l'ouverture de la saison et sont arrivés en finale de la saison à Jukasa Motor Speedway comme les deux seuls pilotes en lice pour le championnat.
La tendance s'est poursuivie alors que Ranger a battu Lacroix d'une position pour remporter son troisième championnat NASCAR Pinty's Series.
Ranger, qui a remporté le premier championnat Pinty's Series en 2007 à 20 ans, a suivi deux ans plus tard avec un deuxième championnat. Il est le leader de tous les temps de la série avec 28 victoires et recherche un 4e titre depuis 10 ans.
Après quatre victoires et une saison 2019 presque parfaite, Ranger n'as eu besoin que d'une quatrième place pour enfin revenir au sommet du sport.
"C'est un rêve et je suis si heureuse pour mon équipage," dit Ranger. "Tout le monde ici travaille si dur et c'est fantastique de gagner notre troisième championnat. Je savais que nous étions très rapides, que nous devions finir devant lui, et nous l'avons fait et avons gagné le championnat."
Malgré le plus grand nombre de tours en tête, Kevin Lacroix n'a pas réussi à décrocher son premier titre de champion, une fois de plus.
Lacroix a dominé la première moitié de la course. Mais après la pause à mi-chemin, il a commencé à s'estomper.
La paire de pilotes de l'équipe Orange de l'EHR, Brett Taylor et Jason Hathaway se sont battus pendant le dernier quart de la course, offrant aux fans l'une des batailles les plus intenses de la saison. Dans le dernier tour, dans le dernier virage, Taylor a doublé Hathaway et remporté la course, sa première victoire en carrière dans la série Pinty's.
Hathaway a fini deuxième, à un peu plus d'un dixième de seconde derrière Taylor. Donald Theetge a terminé troisième à son dernier départ en tant que pilote à temps plein.
Ranger et Lacroix complètent le top cinq. Pete Shepherd III a terminé sixième après avoir dû prendre le départ à l'arrière, avec Alex Guénette, qui remplaçait Alex Tagliani en rentrant en septième place.
D.J. Kennington, Mathieu Kingsbury et LP Dumoulin complèteront le top dix.
Le « Pinty's Fall Brawl sera diffusé sur TSN le dimanche 6 octobre à 12 h 30 et sur RDS2 le dimanche 20 octobre à 12 h 30.
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1.10.19
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It's been near impossible to separate Andrew Ranger and Kevin Lacroix throughout the 2019 season.
The two drivers have traded the points lead since the season opened at CTMP in May, and entered the season finale at Jukasa Motor Speedway as the only two drivers in contention for the championship.
It was only fitting the trend continued as Ranger edged Lacroix by one position to earn his third NASCAR Pinty's Series championship.
It was a celebration ten years in the making.
Ranger, who won the inaugural Pinty's Series championship in 2007 at the ripe age of 20, followed that two years later with a second championship. He's remained a dominant driver – he is the series all-time leader in wins with 28 – but has repeatedly suffered heartbreak chasing his third title.
Following four wins and a nearly perfect 2019 season, a fourth-place finish was all Ranger needed to finally return to the pinnacle of the sport.
"It's a dream and I'm so happy for my crew," Ranger said. "Everybody here works so hard and it's fantastic to win our third championship. I knew that we were really fast, we knew we had to finish in front of him, and we did just that and won the championship."
Despite leading the most laps, Kevin Lacroix would once again fall short of his maiden championship. He finished the season with two wins, but the bad luck struck again.
Lacroix started the race on the provisional pole after qualifying was rained out, and dominated the first half of the race, locking up bonus points for the most laps led. But following the halfway break, he began to fade.
"We had a fast car today," Lacroix said. "We went for the win, so we tried an adjustment but it didn't work out. We are just very thankful for the great season that we had."
As Lacroix fell back, it was the pair of EHR Team Orange drivers who saw their cars jump to life. Brett Taylor and Jason Hathaway battled for the last quarter of the race, treating fans to one of the most high-intensity battles of the season. As the laps wore down, Taylor tried everything he could to get around his teammate: he did just that in the most dramatic way possible.
On the final lap, in the final corner, Taylor made his move. Putting the bumper to Hathaway, the Calgary, Alberta driver lead only one lap all evening: the most important one. Scoring his first career Pinty's Series win, Taylor would make history in the process.
"[Jason] gave me enough room on the bottom to race him clean," Taylor said. "I was super loose and every time I got to his door I had to back off cause I didn't want to blow a tire.
"In the end, all I had to do was give him a little bit of a bump," Taylor added.
With the victory, Taylor becomes the first Western Canadian driver to win in the Pinty's Series –158 of the first 159 races were won by drivers from Ontario and Quebec, with Donald Chisholm (Nova Scotia) the previous outlier.
Hathaway would come home second, just over a tenth of a second behind Taylor. Donald Theetge finished third in his final start as a full-time driver.
Ranger and Lacroix completed the top five. Pete Shepherd III finished sixth after having to start at the rear, with Alex Guenette, who was subbing for Alex Tagliani coming home in seventh.
D.J Kennington, Mathieu Kingsbury and LP Dumoulin would complete the top ten.
The Pinty's Fall Brawl will air on TSN on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 12:30 p.m. and on RDS2 on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 12:30 p.m.

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1.10.19
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Posted by
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26.9.19
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Tout se joue à Jukasa
Depuis 13 saisons, la série NASCAR Pinty's représente le summum des courses de stock-car au Canada. Avec 13 courses à travers le deuxième plus grand pays du monde, tout pilote qui gagne le titre se joint à l'élite de notre sport.
Depuis 2007, six pilotes ont remporté le titre NASCAR Pinty's. La finale de samedi soir, la « Fall Brawl » au Jukasa Motor Speedway, donne l'occasion à un pilote d'ajouter à ses titres déjà acquis, tandis qu'un autre vise à ajouter son nom à la liste des champions.
Andrew Ranger vice son troisième championnat. Le pilote le plus gagnant de NASCAR Canada a remporté le championnat inaugural en 2007, suivi d'un autre en 2009.
Avec un écart potentiel de 10 ans entre les championnats - ce qui constituerait le deuxième plus long écart pour un pilote de la même série NASCAR - Ranger se prépare à décrocher son troisième titre.
« Cela signifierait beaucoup pour notre équipe MOPAR. Beaucoup de ces gars sont avec moi depuis longtemps et je veux en faire des champions, » a déclaré M. Ranger.
« Nous avons gagné plusieurs courses en Pinty's, malgré les malchances qui semblaient nous suivre nous ont coûté plusieurs victoires. Maintenant que nous avons les points d'avance à une course de l'arrivée, je suis excité, mais je sais que Kevin sera un concurrent difficile, » a ajouté Ranger.
L'autre pilote, l'ancien champion de Champ Car Atlantic Kevin Lacroix est peut-être le meilleur pilote de la série à ne pas avoir gagné un championnat. Au cours des quatre dernières années, Lacroix a été très, très proche.
Lacroix a remporté 12 courses depuis 2015 (le meilleur pilote de cette période) et a terminé dans les cinq premiers au classement chacune de ses trois années à temps plein. Il a été en lice pour le titre chaque année, mais il a soit fait des erreurs, soit été pris dans l'erreur de quelqu'un d'autre.
« Au cours des dernières saisons, notre voiture s'est vraiment améliorée, » dit Lacroix. « Je suis un meilleur pilote sur pistes ovales et nous sommes maintenant une équipe dominante. »
« Gagner un championnat signifierait beaucoup, non seulement pour moi, mais aussi pour mes équipiers, « a ajouté Lacroix. « Ils travaillent tous très fort et beaucoup d'entre eux rêvent d'être champions, nous avons eu beaucoup de malchance au fil des ans et ce serait incroyable d'enfin gagner le titre. »
L'écart se situe à 11 points à une course de l'arrivée, la Fall Brawl de Pinty's s'annonce comme un classique et une fin passionnante d'une des saisons les plus excitantes de la NASCAR à ce jour.
Deux pilotes, 11 points, une course pour tout décider.
NOUVELLES & NOTES
Labbé au Roval à Charlotte, Charland le remplace
Alex Labbé manquera la finale de la saison alors qu'il se dirige vers le sud pour participer à la série Xfinity sur le tracé hybride « Roval » au Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ce sera la huitième course de la Xfinity Series pour Labbé avec DGM Racing et le propriétaire-chef d'équipe Mario Gosselin. À sa place, Sam Charland, le phénomène québécois en série Late Model, fera ses débuts en série Pinty's sur sa Ford No 36 Le Concorde / Silverwax / Festidrag.
La saison se termine avec 24 voitures inscrites au Pinty's Fall Brawl.
Un peloton de 24 voitures est inscrit pour la finale de samedi soir à Jukasa. Dumoulin Competition et DJK Racing amènent chacun quatre voitures. L'équipe de Kennington comprend Andrew Ranger, DJ Kennington, Cole Powell et Julia Landauer, le même groupe qu'au New Hampshire. Entre-temps, LP et JF Dumoulin seront rejoints par Brandon White et Dexter Stacey.
Les amateurs sont invités à assister à la réunion des pilotes et chefs d'équipe d'avant-course.
Pour la deuxième année consécutive, les amateurs de la Jukasa Motor Speedway sont invités à assister à la réunion pilote / chef d'équipe avant la course. La réunion - au cours de laquelle la NASCAR examinera les règlements avec les pilotes, les chefs d'équipage et les observateurs - aura lieu dans les tribunes à 15 h 20, juste avant le coup d'envoi des qualifications, à 16 h.
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It All Comes Down to Jukasa
For 13 seasons, the NASCAR Pinty's Series has been the pinnacle of stock car racing in Canada. With 13 races across the second largest country in the world, any driver who can conquer Canada will join elite company.
Since 2007, only six drivers have claimed the NASCAR Pinty's Series championship. With Saturday's season finale, the Pinty's Fall Brawl at Jukasa Motor Speedway, one driver has the opportunity to build on past championships, while one looks to add his name to the list of champions.
Andrew Ranger is in the hunt for his third championship. NASCAR Canada's winningest driver won the inaugural championship in 2007, following it up with another in 2009.
With a potential 10-year gap between championships – which would tie the second-longest span for a driver in the same NASCAR series – Ranger is chomping at the bit for his third title.
"It would mean so much for our MOPAR team," Ranger said. "A lot of these guys have been with me for a long time and I want to make them champions.
"We've won a lot in this series but always seemed to have bad luck and couldn't close the deal," Ranger added. "Now we have the points lead with one race to go, I'm excited but I know Kevin will be a tough competitor."
On the other side of the spectrum, former Champ Car Atlantic star Kevin Lacroix is perhaps the best driver in the series to not win a championship. Over the past four years, Lacroix has been close, really close.
Lacroix has a series-best 12 wins since 2015, and has finished top five in the standings each of his three full-time years. He has been in contention for the title in the season every year, but has either made mistakes, or been caught up in somebody else's mistake.
"Over the past few seasons, our car has really gotten better," Lacroix said. "I've gotten better as an oval driver and we now are a dominant team.
"Winning a championship would mean so much to not just me but my teams as well," Lacroix added. "They all work so hard and a lot of them have dreamed about being champions, we've had a lot of bad luck over the years and to finally win it would be amazing."
The gap stands at 11 points with one race to go, the Pinty's Fall Brawl is setting up to be a classic and a thrilling end of one of NASCAR's most exciting seasons to date.
Two drivers, 11 points, one race to decide it all.
NEWS & NOTES
Labbe to run Roval, Charland to sub
Alex Labbe will miss the season finale as he heads south to compete at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. This will be the eighth Xfinity Series race for Labbe with DGM Racing and team owner Mario Gosselin. In his place, Quebec Late Model phenom Sam Charland will make his Pinty's Series debut in the No. 36 Hotel Le Concorde Silverwax Festidrag Ford.
Season closes with 24 cars entered in Pinty's Fall Brawl
A strong field of 24 cars are entered for Saturday night's finale at Jukasa. Dumoulin Competition and DJK Racing will each bring four cars. For DJK Racing their stable will include Andrew Ranger, DJ Kennington, Cole Powell and Juila Landauer, the same group that ran at New Hampshire. Meanwhile, LP and JF Dumoulin will be joined by Brandon White and Dexter Stacey.
Fans invited to watch the pre-race driver / crew chief meeting
For the second straight year, fans at Jukasa Motor Speedway are invited to watch the driver / crew chief meeting take place before the race. The meeting – in which NASCAR reviews rules and regulations with drivers, crew chiefs and spotters – will take place in the grandstands at 3:20 p.m., right before qualifying kicks off at 4 p.m.
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 25, 2019) – NASCAR announced today that Tracey Lesetar-Smith has been named Senior Vice President, General Counsel. In her new role, Lesetar-Smith will lead day-to-day operations of the sanctioning body's legal and public affairs operations at company headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla.
After more than two decades of service, longtime NASCAR executive Karen Leetzow will step down from her role as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at year end. Leetzow, who announced her intention to depart last year but agreed to remain to facilitate the merger between NASCAR and ISC, has guided NASCAR's overarching legal strategy across key business areas such as intellectual property, litigation, antitrust and general corporate law.
"What an incredible experience it has been to work at NASCAR and with the France family over the past two decades. I am very proud of what we have collectively achieved and feel thankful to have led one of the best legal teams in all of sports," said Karen Leetzow. "This decision did not come easy, but it's time for me to explore new challenges and I am excited for what the future holds."
"Karen's leadership, legal expertise and operational acumen have been invaluable over the past 20 years. She's been a critical member of our senior leadership team and guided us through significant changes across our business operations. We wish Karen well on her future endeavors and appreciate her tremendous contributions to the sport, she will be dearly missed," said Gary Crotty, Chief Legal Officer, NASCAR and ISC. "We are excited to welcome Tracey to the NASCAR family. She brings a wealth of experience in sports and corporate law and a tremendous passion and enthusiasm for the future success of our sport."
"I look forward to joining this highly-talented team and I am confident we will have continued success in the years ahead," said Lesetar-Smith. "I am excited to become a member of the leadership group at NASCAR and for the opportunities this role will afford to positively position the sport for future growth."
Lesetar-Smith's first day will be October 14 and she will assume the full responsibilities of General Counsel upon Leetzow's departure at year end.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.comand www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat ('NASCAR').
Contact:
Chris Tropeano
NASCAR Communications
Posted by
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25.9.19
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Posted by
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23.9.19
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Opposites Attract at Peterborough Speedway's Autumn Colours Classic
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
Opening the door to victory lane at the most prestigious short track motorsports event in Central Ontario is an arduous task. That won't stop teams from close to 10 different divisions from chasing the checkered flag during the 27thannual Autumn Colours Classic, presented by Lucas Oil Products and Pure Country 105 – October 11th to 13th– at Peterborough Speedway.
With a number of different venues represented, the fall spectacular has a reputation for bringing teams with a variety of experience levels into the fold in search of the coveted prize and bragging rights that come with a trip to the winner's circle and the 2019 edition of the fall spectacular is no exception. From the entry level Bone Stock ranks, all the way to headline Late Model stars, there is plenty of excitement packed into the Thanksgiving Weekend extravaganza at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road.
26-year-old Jordan Morris – a Bone Stocker at Delaware Speedway – has been racing for 11 seasons but will be making the trip east for his first career ACC start. Hometown runner Jack Hannah – who won a rain shortened Autumn Colours Mini Stock feature in 2007 – will have his car in the race this year, but despite finishing 9th in the Bone Stock standings, he'll hand over the driving chores to his son Brandon, who hadn't run the event since a hard crash in 2016.
Home track regular Tyler Bouillon – who recently celebrated his 19th birthday – will mark the occasion with first Autumn Colours green flag. The Burketon, Ontario native finished 10th in this year's Super Stock standings. Jordan Latimer made a pair Late Model starts at Peterborough Speedway and this year will mark the 3rd Super Stock start in the season-ending event for the Sunset Speedway regular. Even though his equipment has been parked for most of the 2019 season, Rob Richards has confirmed plans of keeping a string of ACC starts that began in 2014 alive.
For about 20 years, Bobby Cousineau's motorsports focus was on wrecking cars. A competitor in demolition derbies across Canada and the U.S., he didn't think about racing them until late in the 2019 season when he made his first start in Peterborough Speedway's Late Model division. The 35-year-old from Castleton, Ontario who operates an HVAC business is looking forward to his first Autumn Colours Classic. By contrast, Ryan Kimball has been part of this show for the last 18 years. His display case has the hardware from a 2014 ACC win; the same year the 34-year-old from Norwood, Ontario won the hometown Late Model track championship. For the last 5 seasons, Kimball raced in a couple of different classes at the marquee event.
Make sure your season-ending motorsports calendar includes a trip to the 27th annual Autumn Colours Classic, presented by Lucas Oil Products and Pure Country 105 – October 11th to 13th – at Peterborough Speedway. Get full event details at www.peterboroughspeedway.com and the Facebook or Twitter social media platforms.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
2014 Late Model track champion and Autumn Colours Classic winner Ryan Kimball (#29) will make his 19thconsecutive start in the marquee event – October 11thto 13th – at Peterborough Speedway.
Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
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23.9.19
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Au cours d'une saison qui a vu l'une des batailles pour le championnat de la série Pinty's la plus intense à ce jour, Andrew Ranger est arrivé au New Hampshire pour une course qu'il devait absolument gagner pour conserver sas chances de remporter son troisième titre Pinty's en carrière.
Bien qu'il devançait Kevin Lacroix de deux points, Ranger savait bien que Lacroix est dominant au New Hampshire Motor Speerway. En qualifications comme aux essais, Lacroix a repris là où il s'était arrêté l'an dernier, dominant aux essais comme en qualification. En tête des 92 premiers tours de la course qui en comptait 100, tout a changé lorsque Ranger et Alex Labbé, respectivement deuxième et troisième à une ou deux secondes derrières Lacroix, ont commencé à combler cet écart tard en course.
Durant les 10 derniers tours, Andrew Ranger a réussi à s'emparer de la tête puis de la victoire dans le Visit New Hampshire 100, remportant ainsi sa quatrième victoire de la saison et de la série pour la 28e fois de sa carrière, le meilleur de la série à ce niveau.
« Hier, nous avons eu quelques problèmes avec la voiture et je n'étais pas très à l'aise en piste, » dit Ranger. « Nous sommes entrés dans les puits pour prendre de l'essence et faire un ajustement, et après ça, ma voiture était une fusée. »
Bien qu'il ait pris la première relance en fin de peloton après un premier passage aux puits pour de l'essence. Ranger s'est frayé un chemin à travers le peloton, rejoignant Lacroix avec 15 tours à compléter, et en se frottant contre son pare-chocs au passage. Ranger attaque Lacroix alors que sa voiture semble un peu plus rapide, et finit par pousser Lacroix à l'erreur et le double pour ensuite de bâtir une avance de quelques secondes dans les derniers tours.
Fait à noter. La victoire de Ranger au NHMS lui donne au moins une victoire sur toutes les pistes encore utilisées par la série Pinty's.
Maintenant deuxième, Kevin Lacroix se retrouve dans une bataille serrée pour la deuxième place avec Alex Labbé, qui est maintenant dans sa roue avec une voiture elle aussi encore rapide en fin de course. Lacroix et Labbé ont croisé le fer, souvent côte à côte avant de se toucher fort en sortie du virage quatre. Lacroix a frappé le mur et n'a pu croiser le fil d'arrivée, et se retrouva 12e et pas heureux du résultat d'une course qu'il avait dominé si facilement. Intact au niveau physique, Kevin Lacroix a refusé de commenter l'accident à sa sortie de la clinique médicale.
Après une belle performance lors de la dernière course à Saint-Eustache, Alex Labbé a su continuer sur sa lancée au New Hampshire. Il a déjà couru deux fois ici en série NASCAR Xfinity, et a su bien gérer sa course aujourd'hui pour remonter à une belle deuxième place au final. Il s'agit de son sixième top cinq de 2019 et de son meilleur résultat de la saison à date.
"Nous avions besoin de cette deuxième place parce que nous n'avons pas toujours eu de la chance durant la saison, » a dit Labbé. « La voiture était rapide aujourd'hui, mais Andrew Ranger était le meilleur, surtout sur les longs relais que nous avons vécu aujourd'hui. On a bien fini et on est très heureux, » de conclure Alex Labbé.
D.J. Kennington a connu une saison 2019 très régulière. Qualifié deuxième aujourd'hui, il a roulé savamment et terminé troisième, à la faveur de la déchéance de Lacroix en toute fin de course. La Dodge No. 17 Castrol Edge de Kennington se présente Jukasa la semaine prochaine en tant que vainqueur en titre grâce à une victoire intelligente en 2018.
Peter Shepherd III, deuxième à Jukasa l'année dernière, et Marc-Antoine Camirand, complètent le top cinq.
Cole Powell et Alex Guénette ont terminé sixième et septième, respectivement.
Mathieu Kingsbury, LP Dumoulin et Anthony Simone complètent le top
Andrew Ranger arrivera à Jukasa le weekend du 28 septembre prochain avec une avance de 11 points sur Lacroix à l'approche de la « Pinty's Fall Brawl. »
Les amateurs peuvent visionner le Visit New Hampshire 100 sur TSN le dimanche 29 septembre à 13 h et sur RDS2 le dimanche 13 octobre à 13 h.
Le champion de la série NASCAR Pinty's 2019 sera couronné le weekend prochain au Jukasa Motor Speedway. Ranger remportera-t-il un troisième titre de champion, ou Kevin Lacroix va-t-il se reprendre pour remporter son premier?
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Andrew Ranger steals dramatic victory in New Hampshire
In a season that has seen one of the series' most intense championship battles to-date, Andrew Ranger entered New Hampshire in a must win situation.
Though he trailed Kevin Lacroix by only two points, New Hampshire was a track where Lacroix has been nothing short of dominant.
In both qualifying and practice, Lacroix picked up right where he had left off last year in terms of speed. In a league of his own all weekend, the 30-year old won the pole and appeared almost untouchable. Leading the first 92 laps, everything changed when Ranger and Alex Labbe began to close the gap.
Following a dramatic final 10 laps, Andrew Ranger was able to steal the victory in the Visit New Hampshire 100 claiming his fourth win of the season and series leading 28th of his career.
"Yesterday we had some problems with the car and I wasn't too comfortable with the car," said Ranger. "We came into the pits to get fuel and make an adjustment, after that my car was a rocket."
Despite starting in the back after pitting for fuel on the first caution, Ranger battled his way through the field. Charging past everyone he came across, he caught the back bumper of Lacroix with about 15 to go. Lap after lap, the Roxton Pond, Quebec driver tried everything he could to get around Lacroix.
With eight laps to go, Ranger's N0.27 MOPAR Dodge made the pass and checked out holding on for the win.
When claiming the checkered in Loudon, Andrew Ranger has won at every active track in the Pinty's Series.
"Lap after lap we were catching Kevin Lacroix," Ranger added. "We made the pass and got the win, so I'm very happy for my MOPAR team and now we are the points leader."
After losing the lead, Lacroix was locked in a tight battle for second with Labbe. The two fought side by side before making contact coming to the checkered. Lacroix spun into the inside wall, coming to rest a mere 100 feet from the finish. Following the accident, Lacroix was checked and release from in the infield care centre, declining to comment.
Following a dominant performance last race at Saint-Eustache, Alex Labbe rode the momentum into New Hampshire. Having driven twice before in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he held on for a runner up finish. Labbe would also notch his sixth top-five of 2019 and best his finish of the season.
"We needed this cause we've struggled all year," said Labbe. "We had really good speed today but [Andrew] Ranger was the class of the field today on the long runs. We finished and we're very happy."
D.J Kennington has had a very consistent 2019 season. Qualifying on the outside of the front row, he would score a third place finish. Kennington's Castrol Edge Dodge heads into Jukasa next week as the defending winner.
Last year's runner up finisher Peter Shepherd III and Marc-Antoine Camirand would complete the top five.
Cole Powell and Alex Guenette finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Mathieu Kingsbury, LP Dumoulin and Anthony Simone rounded out the top ten.
Following the Visit New Hampshire 100, Andrew Ranger will carry an 11-point advantage over Lacroix heading into the Pinty's Fall Brawl at Jukasa September 28.
Fans can watch the Visit New Hampshire 100 on TSN on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m and on RDS2 Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.
The NASCAR Pinty's Series will close out their season next week at the Jukasa Motor Speedway, where a champion will be crowned. Will Ranger pull ahead to claim his third championship or will Kevin Lacroix rally back to steal his first?
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Marc Patrick Roy
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23.9.19
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