By: NASCAR Pinty's Series
July 23 2016
Scores Second Win in a Row in as Many Weeks
Wetaskiwin, Alberta – Alex Tagliani might have missed the season opener, but halfway through the NASCAR Pinty’s Series 2016 season, he’s quickly becoming a contender for the championship.
Tagliani took the lead on Lap 88 and pulled away late in the caution-filled Alberta Has New Energy 300 Saturday at Edmonton International Raceway to pick up his third win of the season.
The Lachenaie, Quebec native missed the first race of the year in Bowmanville, Ontario, to compete in the Indianapolis 500, but he’s quickly moved up the standings to third – now just 26 points behind leader Andrew Ranger.
L.P. Dumoulin continued his recent turnaround with his best showing of the season in second, while Josten’s Rookie of the Year leader Cayden Lapcevich rebounded from an accident to finish third.
Jamie Krzysik was fourth with Mark Dilley completing the top five.
Ranger finished sixth with Alex Labbe, Kelly Admiraal, Gary Klutt and D.J. Kennington rounding out the top 10.
Kevin Lacroix won his first E3 Spark Plugs Pole Award during qualifying and led the first four laps of the race before Dilley grabbed the lead on Lap 5.
Lapcevich exchanged the lead twice with Dilley over the next 83 laps before Tagliani got to the front and never looked back.
Kennington was running second to Tagliani late in the race before a mechanical issue forced him to the pits on Lap 294.
The race was slowed nine times by caution for 74 laps.
Lapcevich was able to trim four points off of Ranger’s lead in the standings and now sits nine points back (249-240). Tagliani's hot streak has enabled him to help put car owner Colin Livingston in the lead in the owner's standings by seven points over Doug Kennington (256-249).
The NASCAR Pinty’s Series continues its western swing on Wednesday visiting Wyant Group Raceway for the Velocity Prairie Thunder 250.
NASCAR Pinty's Series-Alberta Has New Energy 300 Results
Saturday At Edmonton International Raceway, Wetaskiwin, Alta.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (4) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Chevrolet, 300 laps, 42.439 mph.
2. (5) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 300.
3. (2) Cayden Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 300.
4. (7) Jamie Krzysik, Grande Prairie, Alta., Dodge, 300.
5. (3) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Ford, 300.
6. (6) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 300.
7. (18) Alex Labbe, Victoriaville, Que., Ford, 300.
8. (8) Kelly Admiraal, Edmonton, AB, Dodge, 299.
9. (12) Gary Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Dodge, 299.
10. (11) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 294.
11. (13) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Ford, 293.
12. (16) Jason Hankewich, Kindersley, Sask., Chevrolet, 289.
13. (15) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Ford, 256, accident.
14. (10) Ryley Seibert, Williams Lake, B.C., Dodge, 225, overheating.
15. (1) Kevin Lacroix, Saint-Eustache, Que., Dodge, 198, radiator.
16. (9) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 142, accident.
17. (14) Jason Hathaway, St. Thomas, Ont., Chevrolet, 103, accident.
18. (17) Ian Admiraal, Sherwood Park, Alta., Chevrolet, 57, electrical.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 46 minutes 2 seconds
Margin of Victory: 4.675 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: K.Lacroix * (69.724 mph, 12.908 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 74 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: K. Lacroix 1-4; M. Dilley 5-23; C. Lapcevich 24-29; M. Dilley 30-53; C. Lapcevich 54-87; A. Tagliani 88-300.
Standings: 1. A. Ranger, 249; 2. C. Lapcevich, 240; 3. A. Tagliani, 223; 4. A. Labbe, 212; 5. K. Lacroix, 211; 6. L. Dumoulin, 210; 7. D. Kennington, 207; 8. G. Klutt, 206; 9. L. Jackson, 184; 10. J. Hathaway, 184.