BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (May 20, 2012) – J.R. Fitzpatrick ended a 20-winless streak to pick up his first win since July 25, 2010 – and it wasn’t easy as he held off D.J. Kennington in the final turn at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park to win the Vortex Brake Pads 200 in the season-opener for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Sunday.
For Fitzpatrick, out of Cambridge, Ont., it was his seventh career win in the series and his third at the Bowmanville 2.459-mile road course. On the day, he led a race-high 39 laps behind the wheel of his No. 84 Equipment Express Chevrolet.
Defending series champion and pole winner, Scott Steckly, followed in third with Andrew Ranger and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin fourth and fifth, respectively.
Finishing sixth through 10th were, Jason Hathaway, Kerry Micks, Jeff Lapcevich, Robin Buck and Peter Klutt.
The race lead changed hands nine times among six drivers including four times between Fitzpatrick and Kennington in the final 10 laps. The field was slowed due to caution just three times for 11 laps.
The Vortex Brake Pads 200 will air on TSN on Sunday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET and Wednesday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET on RDS.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series with two road-course events to open the season will be back on the track on June 2-3 for the Lucas Oil Grand Prix at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que.
NASCAR CANDADIAN TIRE SERIES-UNOFFICIAL Vortex Brake Pads 200 Results
Sunday
At Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
Bowmanville, Ontario
Lap length: 2.459 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) JR Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ont., Chevrolet, 51 laps, 74.402 mph.
2. (4) DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 51.
3. (1) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 51.
4. (3) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 51.
5. (10) Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 51.
6. (6) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 51.
7. (7) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 51.
8. (9) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 51.
9. (11) Robin Buck, Campbellville, Ont., Dodge, 51.
10. (8) Peter Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Chevrolet, 51.
11. (5) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 51.
12. (13) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 51.
13. (17) Howie Scannell Jr., Milton, Ont., Dodge, 51.
14. (22) Derek White, Kahnawake, Que., Chevrolet, 51.
15. (23) Dave Coursol, St. Jerome, Que., Dodge, 51.
16. (20) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 51.
17. (26) David Thorndyke, Oshawa, Ont., Chevrolet, 50.
18. (16) Martin Roy, Napierville, Que, Dodge, 50.
19. (14) Jarrad Whissell, Calgary, Alta., Ford, 48.
20. (18) Steven Mathews, New Liskeard, Ont., Ford, 43, off track.
21. (19) Isabelle Tremblay, St. Hippolyte, Que., Dodge, 28, rear end.
22. (12) Steve Cote, Ile Bizard, Que, Chevrolet, 24, off track.
23. (27) Hugo Vannini, Repentigny, Que., Ford, 24.
24. (24) Michael Scholz, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Chevrolet, 21.
25. (25) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Dodge, 17, off track.
26. (15) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 14, off track.
27. (21) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que., Dodge, 1, off track.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 41 minutes 8 seconds
Margin of Victory: .338 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: S.Steckly (105.484 mph, 83.922 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 11 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Fitzpatrick 1-15; A. Ranger 16; R. Beauchamp,Jr. 17-20; R. Buck 21-23; J. Fitzpatrick 24-38; S. Steckly 39; D. Kennington 40-41; J. Fitzpatrick 42-43; D. Kennington 44; J. Fitzpatrick 45-51.
Standings: 1. J. Fitzpatrick, 48; 2. D. Kennington, 43; 3. S. Steckly, 42; 4. A. Ranger, 41; 5. L. Dumoulin, 39; 6. J. Hathaway, 38; 7. K. Micks, 37; 8. J. Lapcevich, 36; 9. R. Buck, 36; 10. P. Klutt, 34.
From Shon Sbarra / Integrated Marketing Communications
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