NASCAR Canada and FEL SCCC compete at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, the APC Series and Dayco Super Stocks race at Sunset, the ECI Pro Stock Tour visits Scotia Speedworld, the Ontario Sportsman Series rolls into Full Throttle, NASCAR Cup Series and Super DIRTcar Series return from breaks, and much more; we bring you up to speed in this week’s preview.
GP3R
The prestigious Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières takes place this weekend on the historic street course in the Quebec city. The headline NASCAR Canada Series (NCS) saw a popular win last year, with Marc-Antoine Camirand breaking through for his first NCS win at the track after 14 victories in other GP3R races. Camirand is also from nearby St-Léonard D’Aston, QC.
Camirand had just one podium in his first eight NCS starts at the GP3R but now has two straight podium finishes in starts with Paillé Racing. Camirand enters the event with a 10-point lead in the standings over Kevin Lacroix, with Andrew Ranger an additional point back. Ranger leads all drivers with four wins and 11 podiums in the GP3R. This year’s race is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The FEL Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin (SCCC) will hold a pair of races at the GP3R. The first event will take place under night skies on Friday evening, before a late afternoon race on Saturday. Jack Polito (GT4), Richard Boake (TCR) and Eric Kunz (TCA) enter with points leads; Polito is six-for-six this season and Kunz is five-for-six, while Boake enters with three wins.
The Nissan Sentra Cup will race at the GP3R on Saturday and Sunday. Mathieu Miron recorded a pair of wins in the series’ first U.S. stop, last month at Lime Rock Park. Valérie Limoges leads the standings by three points over Nicolas Barrette and Alexandre Fortin.
The Super Production Challenge, F1600 Canada and Chevrolet Urban Challenge (dirt modifieds) are also among the series/races taking part in the GP3R.
United Racing Series
The APC United Late Model Series will be in action at Sunset Speedway on Saturday night. Defending champion Kyle Steckly scored his third win in six races, last weekend at Sauble Speedway, extending his points lead to 17 markers over Blair Wickett. The battle for second remains tight, with just 19 points separating six drivers.
The Dayco Super Stock Series will hold the penultimate round of its five-event calendar at Sunset Speedway on Saturday night. Carson Nagy, Ryan Dyson and Lane Zardo won the opening races of the season; Zardo holds a slim two-point lead in the standings over Nagy, with Dyson sitting 11 points back.
Eastern Canada
The East Coast International Pro Stock Tour will compete at Scotia Speedworld on Saturday. Robbie MacEwen recorded his second career series victory in the last event, at Oyster Bed Speedway, after Nicholas Naugle and Cory Hall crashed while battling for the lead with six laps remaining. Jarrett Butcher leads the standings by 31 points over Austin MacDonald, with Gage Gilby currently 33 points back.
The Maritime League of Legends Tour will also visit Scotia Speedworld on Saturday. Ayden Christensen won the most recent race, on IWK 250 weekend at Riverside International Speedway. And the Hot Rod Classics will round out the touring series at Scotia Speedworld this weekend. Ron Hefler became the fourth different winner in four races this season, last weekend at Oyster Bed Speedway.
Canadian Series News & Notes
There will be several other Canadian series to watch for this weekend:
- The Ontario Sportsman Series will race at Full Throttle Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Connor James won in his return to the series, two weeks ago at Peterborough Speedway, where he filled in for Cory McAllister aboard the No. 71. The points from that event count towards McAllister’s efforts, extending his lead to 64 points over Brendan Patrick.
- The Ontario Outlaw Super Late Models will be in action at Flamboro Speedway on Tuesday night as part of the Gold Rush 124 event. The additional race replaces the previously scheduled Flamboro stop on the August long weekend. J.R. Fitzpatrick won the most recent event, in mid-July at Peterborough, and leads the standings by a mere two points over Dario Capirchio. Three other drivers are within 12 points.
- The Ontario Pro Challenge will race at Flamboro Speedway on Saturday night. Tim Norris and his son Mike Norris split feature wins in the last event, at Full Throttle Motor Speedway; Tim Norris leads the standings by 20 points over Bryan Stevanus, with Mike Norris an additional two points back.
Mike Homewood claimed the Outlaw Midgets main event victory at Peterborough. CREDIT: Jessica Blair/Follow Me Photography The Outlaw Midgets will compete at Full Throttle Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Mike Homewood won the most recent event, two weeks ago at Peterborough Speedway. Jason Metcalfe leads the standings by 39 points over Kevin Spiesz, with Russ Couture an additional point back.
- The Canadian Superbike Championship will visit Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for round five of six this weekend. Samuel Guérin and Ben Young recorded Pro Superbike wins in the last event, at Atlantic Motorsport Park; Young leads the standings by 40 points over Guérin.
- The Ontario Modifieds Racing Series will compete at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday night. Rick Warnes and John Baker Jr. scored feature victories last weekend at Flamboro Speedway; Baker Jr. and Tyler Bouillon each have three wins so far this season.
- The Ontario Legend Car Series will visit Peterborough Speedway on Saturday night. Jade Franklin won both combined features, with the Great Lakes Legends Series, last weekend at Sauble Speedway. Mitch Wright leads the series with four wins in eight races so far this season. Two races will be held at Peterborough, as it includes a makeup date from early July.
International Series News & Notes
There will also be a few international series to watch for:
- The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Truck Series will return from their Olympics break with a stop at Richmond Raceway. The Trucks will race on Saturday night, with Cup on Sunday evening. Canadian Stewart Friesen is currently 12th in the Trucks standings, 16 points out of a playoff spot, with Richmond being the last chance for him to make the postseason. Friesen has a best finish of 10th in four starts at the track.
- The DIRTcar Sportsman Series opens its championship schedule at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on Sunday, with another race coming up at Fulton Speedway on Wednesday. The 11-event calendar (10 points paying races) follows the four regional schedules, where Canadians Cody McPherson (west region) and Shane Pecore (north region) were among the champions. McPherson is a two-time DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion and has the most wins in series history.
- The Super DIRTcar Series will return to action with three races in three nights as part of SummerFAST. The tour will visit Brewerton Speedway on Monday, Land of Legends Raceway on Tuesday and Fulton Speedway on Wednesday. Matt Sheppard leads the standings by 27 points over Canadian Mat Williamson, who has three wins in nine features this season.
