New year, new name, same action-packed stock car racing.

 

The rebranded NASCAR Canada Series kicked it season off at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

 

This year will see no title defense, as last years’ champion Treyten Lapcevich has headed south of the border, joining the CARS Tour full time for 2024.

 

This leaves the trophy ripe for the taking and there are many hungry drivers in the field.

 

The 2023 runner up Marc-Antoine Camirand looks to make that one position improvement this year and bring home his second title, while the likes of Alex Tagliani and Kevin Lacroix look to bring home their first championships. 

 

Saturday’s practice session set a template as to what may be seen in qualifying later on in the day.

 

It ran mostly stoppage free meaning teams and drivers were able to get a lot of laps in.

 

As the session progressed, it was clear that there was one that was going to be the benchmark for the weekend.

 

Lacroix topped the timesheet, a full seven tenths of a second ahead of Andrew Ranger in second and the only driver to break the one minute, 21 second threshold. Camirand, L.P. Dumoulin and Gary Klutt rounding out the top five.

 

Qualifying got underway Saturday evening and all eyes were on the Mirabel, QC native, seeing if he could convert his pace from practice into a pole position.

 

But there was someone else that had other plans.

 

Despite a great time from Lacroix, it was Klutt that snatched the pole by three hundredths of a second. Camirand managed a lap good enough for third, with Ranger and Dumoulin closing out the top five spots.

 

The ASSA ABLOY Accentra 200 got underway with the Halton Hills, ON native holding the lead after turn 1.

 

Things did not stay green for long as a caution came out one lap later for debris on the front straight.

 

Racing resumed on lap four, with Klutt holding off Lacroix until the 35 year-old was able to make his way into the lead two circuits later.

 

This is where his pace showed as he started to pull away, creating a sizable gap back to second place.

 

Then, we started to see the first signs of strategies coming into effect with Klutt coming to the pits at the end of lap 11.

 

But we would not get to see it fully play out as a caution on lap 14 for Matthew Scannell coming to a stop on track.

 

This saw crew chiefs scribble out previous plans and start to formulate new ones.

 

A big group, led by Lacroix Camirand and Ranger, headed down pit road under yellow, while others like Klutt and Dumoulin stayed out.

 

Racing got back under way and there was another card played in the strategy game.

 

Even after stopping under caution, Lacroix was back down pit road immediately afterwards on lap 19.

 

Around the same time that this was happening, Scannell was stopped on track yet again, bringing out the full course yellow.

 

This saw, once more, a splitting of strategies, as some came in and others stayed out.

 

When the green flag fell going onto lap 24, it was Peter Klutt ahead of Sam Fellows out of turn one and these two would hold the front for a while.

 

The likes of Camirand and Lacroix were charging though and by lap 33, the former was making a pass for the lead, with the latter taking it for himself soon after.

 

It seemed at this point a victory was on the cards for him, but it wasn’t meant to be.

 

Just 11 laps from the end, Lacroix ground to a halt outside of turn one, his transmission seemingly letting him down, and taking away a golden opportunity to start the season with a win.

 

When racing resumed, it became a three-car fight for the win between Camirand, Gary Klutt, and Dumoulin, one that required overtime to settle as the number 24 of Thomas Nepveu came to stop, suffering from electrical issues.

 

This shootout would go down to the final turn.

 

In the end, the St. Leonard d’Aston, QC native would hang on for the win, kicking off his 2024 season with a bang.

 

It was Camirand’s ninth consecutive podium at a road or street course, and the victory has him as the early championship leader heading into round two.

 

Klutt takes home a hard earned second and got close heading into turn 10 but just wasn’t close enough.

 

When asked about a potential bump and run if he was closer, it seems it wasn’t a thought for him.

 

“I don’t wanna tear stuff up and smash into guys,” Klutt said in the post-race interview. “If its tight and you can legitimately go for a pass, that’s one thing, but just driving into the rear of someone…that’s not racing.”

 

Dumoulin rounded out the podium positions and had a strong performance, though may feel aggrieved that the green-white-checkered cost him a spot.

 

A great race for Sam Fellows, who gets his best ever finish in the NASCAR Canada Series coming home in fourth. Alex Labbe closes out the top five.

 

Drive of the day definitely goes to Andrew Ranger, who, after falling back during the middle part of the race, rallies back for a top 10, finishing in eighth place.

 

The series heads east to Autodrome Chaudière for round two of the season on June 1.

Trois-Rivières, Quebec - At the wheel of car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin got off to a great start to the 2024 season of the NASCAR Canada series, taking third place on Sunday, on the Mosport racetrack (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park), after led several laps and was in contention for victory until the last restart.

 

Series’ Triple champion, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin arrived confidently on the Ontarian track, which he particularly appreciates for its fast turns and its atmosphere. For the occasion, more than 30,000 spectators attended the 51-lap event, extended to 53 due to late-race incidents. “I'm a little disappointed with the yellow flag which sent the race into overtime because I really expected to be able to fight until the end with Marc-Antoine Camirand for victory. I saw that his tires were more worn than mine in the last laps and I believed in my chances. But overall, starting the season with a podium is a satisfying result for our team. We showed our competitiveness throughout the weekend, with a special mention to the Dumoulin Compétition team during the pit stops: the work and strategy were perfect! » mentions Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.

 

The day before, during free practice and then qualifying, Dumoulin was already in the first places of the 30-car peloton. “I qualified fifth because I didn’t have complete confidence in the tires. The set of tires tested for qualifying didn't give me complete satisfaction but I dealt with it. Then the second set, used for qualifying and with which we have to start the race, also did not allow me to exploit the full potential of the car although my time was still good” summarizes the driver of car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab.

 

As soon as the race started, under a summer sun on Sunday afternoon, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin climbed among the leaders. He took the lead on the 18th lap, at the second restart, before going to the pits to refuel on the 23rd lap, when the event was again under a full course yellow. “After refueling, we decided to return to the pits a second time under FCY, to change the four tires. The bet was big because we expected the race to be restarted at any moment but it was the right choice. I then had new tires to attack the second part of the race” explains the Trois-Rivières driver. Remember that the regulations of the NASCAR Canada series prohibit teams from refueling at the same time as changing tires, during a pit stop.

 

Starting far back in the peloton, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin took no time to return to the Top 3. “I had some difficulties with drivers who had not changed tires and were still blocking the trajectory although slower with their old tires, but overall I didn't lose too much time,” he confides.

 

The race ultimately went to overtime. “It’s a shame the last full course yellow because victory was possible before that. I finally conceded a place during the last restart, to the benefit of Gary Klutt, to finish third but this road circuit car that we completely rebuilt really gave complete satisfaction. It’s nice to think that you arrive at a racetrack to aim for victory, to fight forward. The entire team worked very hard during the offseason to start 2024 on a good pace. It’s a very promising podium for the future,” concluded the driver of car #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab.

 

WeatherTech is committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest products possible for your vehicle, home and your pet. From the industry leading FloorLiner to the 100% non-toxic Pet Feeding System, WeatherTech has dedicated itself to exceed customer expectations of quality, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability for over 30 years. To see the full line of automotive, home and pet products that are guaranteed for life, visit weathertech.ca

 

Groupe Bellemare is a 3rd generation family business that has been serving clients since 1959. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and provides them with an innovative work environment facilitating work-family balance and a healthy and safe quality of life. With over a half century of experience and its sustained R&D efforts, the Company offers high-quality products and services in areas as diverse as concrete, abrasives and minerals, dimensional load transportation, and recycling. Groupe Bellemare is also very involved in its industry and attaches great importance to its social and environmental role as a member of the business community. Groupe Bellemare makes a positive contribution to the quality of life of citizens in the communities it serves by supporting numerous social causes and promoting local purchasing through its responsible procurement practices. For more information, visit groupebellemare.com

 

Omnifab has joined Dumoulin Compétition in June 2023. In less than twenty years, Omnifab has made its place in the mechanical manufacturing industry in Quebec. They have earned this place by offering a unique turnkey solution to large companies and SMEs that want to modernize their production line or have their industrial equipment repaired. No matter your industry, you can count on Omnifab team to manufacture custom industrial machinery or solve your mechanical problems with great precision, in a timely manner and with quality components, as pledged. Visit omnifab.ca for more information.

 

Rousseau Metal has been manufacturing high-quality products for 70 years. Over the years the company become known as a leader in storage solutions. The quality, durability and reliability of their products have earned them a reputation as being among the best in the industry. Over the years, the quality of Rousseau products and excellence of the company's business practices have been recognized through various certifications and membership in industrial and automotive organizations. To learn more about the company and its products, visit rousseau.com

 

Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its own race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion - Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada's leader in motorsports through on-track performance, an entrepreneurial spirit and human values. dumoulincompetition.com

 

Hickory, North Carolina - Two months have felt like almost a year for Rette Jones Racing and ASA STARS National Tour rookie driver Kyle Steckly. 

 

Fortunately, the short spring sabbatical will end this week when the ASA STARS National Tour resumes its schedule on Thursday night with the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.  

 

"I'm feeling really good this week; it's been a while since I've run with the Rette Jones team, but we have stayed close and continue to grow together," said Steckly.

 

"I think we are ready for a good result this week." 

 

One of North Carolina's famed short tracks will host one of the most anticipated Late Model races of the month in a race featuring series regulars, local invaders, and a former NASCAR Cup Series champion.

 

Undeterred by the challenges and the array of drivers expected for the season's third race, Steckly and his Rette Jones Racing team are boldly trekking to Hickory. They are determined to rebound from the misfortune of Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway in March and put their No. 30 Ford Mustang back in the hunt.

 

Steckly continued to showcase speed in his rookie season with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team in the Sunshine State 200. Still, while contending for a strong top-10 finish, the team succumbed to a mechanical failure and a frustrating 19th-place finish.

 

With a renewed focus and determination, Steckly is setting his sights on a triumphant race. His goal is to inch closer to Victory Lane and steer his Mark Rette and Terry Jones–owned team back into the championship battle.

 

He’s also leaning on his experience this season in a CARS Tour race where the Canadian turned laps at the iconic half-mile oval.

 

“Hickory Motor Speedway is such a historic track, and very unique,” added Steckly. “I’m glad I have a race under my belt there with the CARS Tour event in April and can definitely lean on that experience to help dial the car in to have the best balance for 250 laps on Thursday night.”

 

With the 10-race ASA STARS National Tour schedule spread out over nine months, Steckly has turned to other Super Late-Model races, including racing in his home country of Canada, to keep a rhythm and build driver confidence heading into the summer.

 

"I think the more seat time you get, the better driver you will be," explained Steckly. "So, although we had a long break with the ASA STARS National tour, I have kept busy racing back home, staying sharp, and ready to go as I continue to grow as a driver."

 

With their sights set on victory, the team led by former ARCA championship crew chief Mark Rette is confident they can find themselves in the hunt for the win Thursday night. Their efforts in 2024 have been commendable, and they are ready to prove their mettle again.

 

"Pensacola didn't go as planned, but we had speed," reassured Rette. "Kyle's unwavering positive attitude is a testament to his character. He adapts remarkably well to a new racing tour with fresh faces and dynamically different race tracks.

 

"I think that a track like Hickory Motor Speedway will play into his wheelhouse. Much like New Smyrna in February, it will be a stacked field, but Kyle has learned so much over the past four months that we can unload and immediately have that speed to put near the front of the field.

 

"We're coming to Hickory to win, but we also want to go to the race and earn some much-needed points to keep us alive in this championship fight. Kyle has been doing a lot of racing since March, putting us in a great space overall.”

 

With eight races remaining in the 2024 ASA STARS National Tour season, Steckly and Rette Jones Racing sit ninth in the championship standings, 74 points in the arrears of championship leader Cole Butcher.

 

"Thursday night is huge," sounded Steckly. "We have two races down now as a team in the series, and race three is a turning point in the 10-race season.

 

“I’m confident we can go out and have a good run Thursday night to put us in a good points position for the middle portion of the season.”

 

Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa will be the primary marketing partner for Steckly's full ASA STARS season aboard the No. 30 Ford Mustang.

 

APC Auto Parts Centres | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 50 branches stretching across Ontario. APC's target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.

 

Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada's top series.

 

In addition to his 2023 APC United Late Model Series championship, Steckly's accolades include two APC United Late Model Series wins, the 2023 Grisdale Triple Crown Champion and Gold Rush 123 winner, second-place at Oshweken Speedway with the NASCAR Canada Series on dirt, and winning the pole in the 2023 season finale Pinty's Fall Brawl at Delaware Speedway in Delaware, Ont.]

 

For more on Kyle Steckly, like him on Facebook (Kyle Steckly Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@kyle_steckly) and X | Twitter (@KyleSteckly).

 

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).

 

The Thursday night showdown will kick off a fast weekend of Memorial Day racing in the Carolinas. The Tar Heel 250 is set for May 23rd, with Qualifying set for 4:30 pm ET, an autograph session at 5:30 pm ET, and racing at 7:30 pm ET.

 

Those unable to attend the Tar Heel 250 can watch live coverage online on TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, or FloRacing, all of which are subscription-based services.

 

Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 65 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.

 

Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.

 

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

 

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2024 in the ASA STARS National Tour Series while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series platform and NASCAR respectively.

 

Rette Jones Racing also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Bowmanville, Ontario - Marc-Antoine Camirand clinched a brilliant victory for the season opener of the NASCAR Canada series, as Paillé Course//Racing team was at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. His teammate Andrew Ranger also had a very good car all weekend, but hard luck during a pit stop prevented him from achieving a top-five finish.

 

Marc-Antoine Camirand claimed a first victory of the season on the fast-paced road course located near Bowmanville, ON. The driver scored the third time in practice and carried this speed to qualifying. 

 

Third on the grid, his GM Paillé/Chevrolet Canada n°96 Camaro was severely understeering at the beginning of the race and Camirand had to concede a position at the first restart. The Camirand Performance crew opted for a two-stop strategy, first for fuel and an adjustment to the suspension, and then to take left-side tires.

 

Camirand managed to make his way up through the field quickly to reach second position, making bold moves on his way through traffic. The leader of the race suffered a mechanical failure, giving the lead to Camirand. “I then knew that I had to continue to push. When the last yellow came out to take the race to overtime, I was a bit worried because I knew that the drivers behind me had taken four tires. Finally, I have been able to hold them off,” said Camirand, who set his sights to his second NASCAR Canada Series title in 2024.

 

His teammate at Paillé Course//Racing Andrew Ranger has also shown very good speed throughout the weekend and had a car to aim at a victory. Second in practice and fourth on the starting grid, he passed Camirand at the first restart on lap 5 and was running a good pace.

 

Unfortunately, when he first came to the pit for fuel, the crew experienced a problem and could not full the fuel cell completely. “I didn’t have enough fuel to go through the whole race, so we had to stop for fuel again. And since we are not allowed to take fuel and tires at the same time, I had to make three stops and only got to change two tires,” explained Ranger.

 

The driver of the GM Paillé/Chevrolet Canada n°27 Camaro, prepared by Innovation Auto Sport team, had to make his second stop for fuel under green flag position, and came back on track behind slower traffic.

 

“After I came back on track, there was a long sequence under green, so I couldn’t catch up. I made the best we could under the circumstances and climbed my way back to the top-10. It’s a shame because we had a fast car all weekend that could have had a shot for the win, but I am confident that we will come back strong,” concluded Ranger, who scores an 8th-place finish.

 

Paillé Course//Racing will be back on track on June 1st as the NASCAR Canada series will be at the short oval of Autodrome Chaudière, in Vallée-Jonction, Qc, where Ranger and Camirand claimed the victory respectively in 2022 and 2023.