The NASCAR Pinty's Series rolls into Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for it's penultimate round this weekend. (Photo-Ray MacAloney/Canadian Auto Racers for RaceCanada.ca)
By: Anthony Bruno for RaceCanada.ca
August 31, 2023 

One of Canada’s most historic race tracks looks to add another chapter in a season’s story.

 

Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) hosts the penultimate round of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series season from September 1st to 3rd.

 

Championship leader Treyten Lapcevich holds a 38-point lead over second place and reigning champion Marc-Antoine Camirand heading into the race weekend.

 

The 19 year-old has had an stellar season, notching six wins, 10 top fives and 12 top 10s through 12 races, achieving an average finish of a mind-boggling 2.5 while grabbing four poles.

 

Lapcevich has already tasted victory at CTMP earlier this year at the second round of the season and looks to repeat that feat come Sunday.

 

Camirand has the best shot at halting the youngster’s bid for a title, but it will take some work, which needs to start this weekend.

 

The 44 year-old’s four wins, 11 top fives, 11 top 10s and an average finish of 3.5 would be a championship leading season most other years.

 

In fact, he’s already surpassed his totals in all the above categories from his championship win in 2022, but unfortunately this performance has been overshadowed by Lapcevich’s otherworldly campaign.

 

In terms of the track itself, CTMP is a venue that has been good to both drivers, though it’s the Grimsby, Ontario native that has the slight edge, despite less starts.

 

Lapcevich has three top fives and 4 top 10s to compliment his earlier victory and an average finish of 7.2 across his five appearances.

 

In comparison, Camirand, in triple the starts to his competitor, sports a lower average finish (10.1).

 

This race won’t be run with just those two though and there are many others that are ready to throw their hats into the ring for a chance at a win.

 

Alex Tagliani, who sits third in the championship 69 points back, holds one of the two wins this season not taken by either Lapcevich or Camirand, with NASCAR Cup Series legend Ken Schrader holding the other.

 

The Montréal, Québec native took victory on the streets of Toronto and has six top fives and 10 top 10s the season, with an average finish of 6.8.

 

Three more names to be on the lookout for over the course of the weekend are Kevin Lacroix, L.P. Dumoulin, and Andrew Ranger.

 

The 34 year-old from St-Eustache, Québec sports an 8.1 average finish to go along with 11 top fives and 11 top 10s and has the most wins at CTMP in series history with six.

 

Ranger has the second most starts at the track with 23 behind D.J. Kennington and only trails Lacroix in laps led. His three victories further solidifies his position as a threat for first come Sunday.

 

With Dumoulin, the only thing more impressive than his four wins in 21 appearances is his 5.7 average finish, which is the highest amongst active drivers. His 14 top fives and 17 top 10s as well means he should be a force this weekend.

 

Action kicks off from CTMP Saturday September 2nd at 1:00 P.M. EST. with the race live on TSN+ Sunday September 3 at 1:10 P.M. E.S.T.