- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
June 8, 2023
Saint-Eustache, Quebec – It's already time for the third round of the NASCAR Pinty's season. Autodrome Chaudière will host the 300-lap race this Saturday evening. Kevin Lacroix will be commandeering the #74 NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil |Valvoline car for the Bud Light 300.
Kevin Lacroix is currently sitting third in the championship ahead of the upcoming round, just 13 points behind the leader, Treyten Lapcevich. At last year's event, Lacroix came out on top despite having an underperforming car. He was able to fight his way into the Top 5, but had to settle for 13th place as a result of picking up a late-stage puncture with 20 laps to go.
"We held a pre–season test with our new car at Autodrome Chaudière," explained Kevin. "It went really well, so I'm hoping to repeat that performance for this event. I'm certainly aiming for a Top 3, and I think we've got the car to do it. However, people always get their elbows out at Autodrome Chaudière, so we'll have to be patient and strategic, and think more about points than the victory."
Lacroix has had a satisfactory start to the season, finishing 3rd at Sunset Speedway, followed by a 4th place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, collecting some valuable points to put in the bank. Autodrome Chaudière is a 1/4-mile oval track that holds no secrets for him. In 2019, he finished 2nd in an action-packed event, while the local hero Raphaël Lessard took the win.
The practice session at 11:20am will kick off Saturday's event. Individual qualifying will take place at 4:00pm, followed by the Bud Light 300 at 5:30pm.
About Lacroix Motorsport: Lacroix Motorsport is a race team created in 2015 from Sylvain Lacroix and Serge Bourdeau’s idea. They wanted to race for pleasure on road tracks in the Canadian NASCAR series. After Kevin Lacroix’s first two wins, and seeing his son’s potential, Sylvain decided to participate full-time in the series. Lacroix Motorsport is not only a team in the NASCAR Pinty’s, in fact, Dany Lacroix, Kevin’s brother, also races in the STCH Cup Formula Tour 1600 in Kent Class.
Lacroix Motorsport stems from an idea and passion. By creating this team, world snowmobile champion, Sylvain Lacroix has made it a family affair.
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- Category: Oval Racing
June 8, 2023
Vallée-Jonction, Québec – This Saturday marks NASCAR Pinty’s first even on Quebec soil this season. It will also be Thomas Nepveu's first time racing in Quebec in several years.
The young driver from Oka will be behind the wheel of the #24 Evirum | Home Hardware Nepveu car for the Bud Light 300, a 300-lap event at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction. It's a homecoming affair for Nepveu, who hasn't raced in Quebec since his karting days.
The Autodrome Chaudière, known for its trademark lime green walls, is the steepest track in Quebec, with a 7 degree variation between the bottom and top of the track, for a total incline of 18 degrees.
The 1/4-mile oval track located in the heart of the Beauce region is the cradle of Quebec stock car racing. Several renowned drivers have driven on its asphalt, including Raphaël Lessard and Alex Labbé.
Thomas is well prepared coming into this event and very determined, having completed his very first NASCAR Pinty's test there last fall. "I can't wait to get back on track at Vallée-Jonction, and to go racing in Quebec again," said Thomas. "We managed to qualify well in the first race of the season at Sunset Speedway, and I hope to be able to do so again on Saturday night."
He went on to say that "racing at Autodrome Chaudière is an honour, especially given the history that permeates this track. The ownership group has done a lot of great things to help young people move up the motorsport ladder, and they have enabled drivers to compete in many different stock car classes."
Saturday's practice session starts at 11:20am, followed by individual qualifying at 4:00pm. Afterwards, the autograph session will take place in the grandstands at 4:30pm. The green flag for the Bud Light 300 will be waved at 5:30pm. The race will be broadcast live on the TSN+ app.
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
June 7, 2023
Trois-Rivières, Quebec – After two events presented in May in Ontario, the 2023 NASCAR Pinty's season continues this Saturday, June 10 in Quebec, on the Autodrome Chaudière, an oval located in Vallée-Jonction, in the Beauce region. This will be the first of three events on Quebec soil this year for the drivers of the Canadian NASCAR series, on a quarter-mile track that Louis-Philippe Dumoulin knows perfectly. After taking pole position and then fourth in the race last year, the driver of car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare will of course be aiming for victory, without forgetting that the saeson is still long and it’s important to think about the points that the Top 5 finish can earn.
Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, who is currently fifth in the standings, intends to take advantage of this event to gain even more positions: “We very often obtained good results at Autodrome Chaudière. It is also a track that I know very well because it is like our test track, when it comes time to test our oval car. No matter where the race takes place, our tests are always done at the Autodrome Chaudière because it’s not only a demanding track but also the closest to our race shop, in Trois-Rivières. I like the track, with its 18° banked turns, but also the atmosphere as there are always thousands of race fans in the grandstands for our annual race there.”
The driver of car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare adds: "I can't wait to see all the fans in the grandstands and in the paddocks and I think we should give them a great show because this track allows the drivers to stay two wide in the turns and to fight side by side for a many laps.”
Three-time champion of the NASCAR Pinty's series, the driver from Trois-Rivières went with the Dumoulin Compétition team to do a test session last week at the Autodrome Chaudière. “This session was successful, we were able to find small things to improve on the car, which gives us great confidence for the race on Saturday. This is important because from this event, the pace of events will really accelerate, with Vallée-Jonction then Newfoundland, Toronto and the West tour; all of this by the end of July,” says Louis-Philippe.
Last year, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin led 54 laps of the Vallée-Jonction event. This time, with 21 drivers expected to take part in the race, he is aware that anything can happen. “It should be a typical short oval race. Everything will depend on the number of full-course yellows. If there are yellow flags early in the event, we all know the expression 'yellows bring yellows'. On the other side, if we’re able to make a long run on the green, it’ll be important to be patient, avoid contacts and aim for the points. I will obviously work very hard to bring car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare on the way to victory but I am also thinking of the championship” concludes Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.
The free practice session will take place from 11:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by qualifying session from 4 p.m. Fans will be able to show up for the drivers' autograph session between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The start of the BUD LIGHT 300, a race of 300 laps, will be given at 5:30 p.m.
Event
BUD LIGHT 300
Track
Autodrome Chaudière (Quebec) - June 10, 2023
Broadcast
TSN app | TSN.ca | RDS (tape delayed) | FloRacing (USA)
Race
5:30 PM E.T. – nascar.ca/race-center/
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
June 8, 2023
Berthierville, Quebec – GM Paillé joins forces with Alex Guenette for three races in 2023, as the driver will sport the colors of the #1 GM dealer in Canada for the Quebec races of the NASCAR Pinty’s series.
Debuting next Saturday at Autodrome Chaudiere, this new association will also be effective for the NASCAR Pinty’s races at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, on August 5-6, and at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, on August 26.
Guenette, winner of the NASCAR Pinty’s race at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières last year, is thrilled to partner with GM Paillé for select races in 2023. “I’m very primed for this association. I have been talking with Jean-Claude for a long time, and we are happy to come up with this partnership for 2023,” said Guenette,
Guenette, whose family owns recreational products dealers Motos Illimitées and Ducati Montréal, also shares common values with GM Paillé.
“This partnership will go beyond racing. We are the best in our respective industries, and we are working on a long-term association for both our businesses. I can learn a lot from Jean-Claude and I am sure that both our dealers can benefit from this association,” explained Guenette.
“Values of excellence, family and teamwork are in our blood, and we think that Alex will be an excellent ambassador for the Paillé brand. We are proud to have him as a part of our big family,” added Jean-Claude Paillé, CEO of GM Paillé.
Guenette will be at the wheel of the GM Paillé/ASSA ABLOY n°3 Chevrolet Camaro prepared by Ed Hakonson Racing team, in collaboration with Choko Authentics and Fast Eddie Speedwear. The n°3 will display a special livery for NASCAR 75th anniversary, as a tribute to 7-time NASCAR Cup champion and 1998 Daytona 500 winner, Dale Earnhardt, famous black GM Goodwrench n°3 Camaro.
This partnership is also an excellent visibility for GM Paillé. “We are convinced that motorsport is an excellent vehicle for marketing and promotion, and we reassess that belief with this partnership with Alex. As we value excellence, we are persuaded that the GM Paillé brand can be at the top of the leaderboard during those races,” concluded Mr. Paillé.
Alex Guenette will be on track this Saturday, as the NASCAR Pinty’s series is at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction, QC. Practice session is scheduled at 11:20 AM, qualifying at 4 PM, and the green flag for the Budweiser 300 will drop at 5:30 PM.
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
May 15, 2023
Innisfil, Ontario – Race one of the 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s season was dominated by one driver – Treyten Lapcevich.
But his victory wasn’t without a challenge.
After topping the leaderboards in practice and qualifying and leading the first 246 laps of the 250-lap race, Lapcevich seemed untouchable.
It wasn't until a late caution with eight to go, that it became anyone’s race to win.
Alex Guenette, who restarted the race from second on the final restart, took the lead with two to go.
While victory was insight for Guenette, the driver of the No. 20 FBM/Delta Bingo Chevrolet was still close behind. In the final corner, Lapcevich got to Guenette's inside, made contact, and drove through on his way to his third win of his NASCAR career, while the No. 3 ASSA ABLOY / Motos Illimitées Chevrolet finished second.
“Those restarts got nerve racking,” said Lapcevich. “A hole opened up in turn three on that last lap and we were able to get it done.
The only laps that Lapcevich did not lead were held by Guenette, who starts the season with his new team, Ed Hakonson Racing.
“I gave it all I had there. Got the lead with one lap to go but just came up short,” said Guenette. “Gives us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season”.
Kevin Lacroix, who was a close contender in the three-way battle for the lead on the final restart, finished the race in third, ahead of reigning champion Marc-Antoine Camirand, and Donald Theetge, who rounded out the top-five.
D.J. Kennington, L.P. Dumoulin, J.P. Bergeron, Larry Jackson, and Brandon Watson finished sixth through 10th respectively.
The 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s season will continue next weekend, Sunday, May 21, at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. The race can be streamed live on TSN+ and FloRacing.
Victoire dominante pour Treyten Lapcevich en ouverture de la saison 2023 au Sunset Speedway
Innisfil, Ontario - La première course de la saison 2023 de la série NASCAR Pinty's a été dominée par un pilote - Treyten Lapcevich.
Toutefois, cette victoire ne s’est pas été réalisée sans défi.
Lapcevich semblait intouchable après avoir terminé en tête des essais et des qualifications et avoir mené les 246 premiers tours de la course de 250 tours.
Alors qu’il ne restait que huit tours avant de croiser le fil d'arrivée, une neutralisation joue les trouble-fête, et la victoire devient à la portée du peloton de tête.
Alex Guénette, en deuxième position lors de cette ultime relance, prend la tête à deux tours de la fin.
La victoire semble acquise pour Guénette toutefois, le pilote de la Chevrolet n°20 FBM/Delta Bingo est juste derrière lui. Dans le dernier virage, Lapcevich se positionne à l'intérieur de Guénette, entre en contact avec lui et le dépasse pour remporter sa troisième victoire en carrière NASCAR Pinty's, tandis que la Chevrolet n°3 ASSA ABLOY / Motos Illimitées d'Alex Guénette termine deuxième.
« Les relances ont été éprouvantes, » déclare Lapcevich. « Une ouverture s’est présentée dans le troisième virage, au dernier tour, nous permettant de passer devant Guénette. »
Les seuls tours que Lapcevich n'a pas menés l'ont été par Guénette, qui commençait sa saison avec une nouvelle équipe, Ed Hakonson Racing.
« J'ai donné tout ce que j'avais. J'ai pris la tête à un tour de l'arrivée, sans réussir à l'emporter », explique Guenette. « Cela nous donne beaucoup de confiance pour le reste de la saison. »
Kevin Lacroix, qui était un proche participant dans la bataille à trois pour la tête lors de la dernière relance, termine la course en troisième place, devant le champion en titre Marc-Antoine Camirand et Donald Theetge, qui complète le top-5.
D.J. Kennington, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, J.P. Bergeron, Larry Jackson et Brandon Watson terminent respectivement de la sixième à la dixième place.
La saison 2023 de la série NASCAR Pinty's se poursuit le week-end prochain, dimanche 21 mai, au Canadian Tire Motorsport Park de Bowmanville, en Ontario. La course sera diffusée en direct sur TSN+ et FloRacing.
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