Rookie Captures Checkered Flag After Leaders Collide On Final Lap

Bowmanville, Ontario – Gary Klutt was at the right place at the right time and it paid off for him Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Sitting in third place behind leader Scott Steckly and Andrew Ranger on the final lap, Klutt was able to get past the duo after they made contact in Turns 9 and 10 allowing the Halton Hills, Ontario rookie to win the Pinty’s presents the Clarington 200 and score his first career NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 win in his seventh start.

Steckly, who was going after his first career road course win, took the lead from Matthew Scannell on Lap 36 and was able to remain in front until three-time series champion has his incident with Ranger on the final circuit of the 51-lap season opener.

Jeff Lapcevich followed Klutt to finish second for the fourth time in the past five races at CTMP while J.F. Dumoulin scored a career-best third-place finish in his 20th career start. D.J. Kennington was fourth while Steckly recovered to finish fifth.

Klutt also captured his first career pole award during qualifying on Saturday.

Defending series champion L.P. Dumoulin rebounded from a spin on Lap 38 to finish sixth with Jason Hathaway, Pier-Luc Ouellette, Ranger and Kevin Poitras completing the top 10.

The race was slowed three times by caution with 17 cars finishing on the lead lap.

The Pinty’s presents the Clarington 200 will air on TSN Saturday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET and also on RDS2 Sunday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m. ET.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pres. by Mobil 1-Pinty's presents the Clarington 200

Unofficial Results – Sunday At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Bowmanville, Ont.

Lap length: 2.459 miles
(Start position in parentheses)

1. (1) Gary Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Chevrolet, 51 laps, 83.068 mph.
2. (6) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 51.
3. (13) J.F. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 51.
4. (7) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 51.
5. (3) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 51.
6. (4) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 51.
7. (10) Jason Hathaway, Dutton, Ont., Chevrolet, 51.
8. (9) Pier-Luc Ouellette, Montreal, Que., Chevrolet, 51.
9. (2) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 51.
10. (17) Kevin Poitras, Newcastle, Ont., Ford, 51.
11. (15) Ryan Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Chevrolet, 51.
12. (11) Matthew Scannell, Rockwood, Ont., Dodge, 51.
13. (19) Simon Dion-Viens, Saint-Joseph-de-Kamouraska, Que., Dodge, 51.
14. (8) Kerry Micks, Mount Albert, Ont., Ford, 51.
15. (20) Dave Coursol, Saint-Jerome, Que., Dodge, 51.
16. (26) Erica Thiering, Sherwood Park, Alta., Ford, 51.
17. (18) Cayden Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 51.
18. (21) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Ford, 50.
19. (24) David Thorndyke, Oshawa, Ont., Chevrolet, 50.
20. (22) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que., Dodge, 50.
21. (23) Kevin O'Connell, Houston, Texas, Chevrolet, 49.
22. (14) Trevor Seibert, Williams Lake, B.C., Chevrolet, 41.
23. (12) Marc-Antoine Camirand, Saint-Leonard-d'Aston, Que., Chevrolet, 36.
24. (25) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 32, clutch.
25. (27) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Dodge, 24, oil leak.
26. (5) Kevin Lacroix, Saint-Eustache, Que., Dodge, 4, accident.
27. (16) Alex Labbe, Saint-Albert, Que., Dodge, 0, did not start.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 30 minutes 35 seconds
Margin of Victory: .571 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: G.Klut (106.321 mph, 83.261 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 8 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders: G. Klutt 1-11; A. Ranger 12-14; J. Lapcevich 15-16; D. Kennington 17-18; S. Steckly 19; A. Ranger 20-22; M. Scannell 23-35; S. Steckly 36-50; G. Klutt 51.

Standings: 1. G. Klutt, 47; 2. J. Lapcevich, 43; 3. J. Dumoulin, 41; 4. D. Kennington, 41; 5. S. Steckly, 41; 6. L. Dumoulin, 38; 7. J. Hathaway, 37; 8. P. Ouellette, 36; 9. A. Ranger, 36; 10. K. Poitras, 34.