#NCATS • @Sunset_Speedway • @tagliani • INNISFIL, ON – Alex Tagliani has had a winning car more than once since his return to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 in 2014, but couldn’t close the deal. He left no doubt Saturday at Sunset Speedway.
Tagliani became the first driver in series history to have the entire field lapped at the finish as he captured the checkered flag in the inaugural Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville in dominant fashion behind the wheel of his No. 18 EpiPen/CGI/CanTourque Chevrolet.
It was the second career series victory for Tagliani, who last won on July 26, 2008 at Edmonton City Centre Airport. This was just the 27th Canadian Tire Series start for the native of Lachenaie, Quebec.
Jason Hathaway, last week’s winner at Autodrome Chaudiere, finished a lap down in second with rookie Cayden Lapcevich in third. Scott Steckly was two laps down in fourth with J.F. Dumoulin fifth.
Polesitter Gary Klutt, Alex Labbe, Marc-Antoine Camirand, Noel Dowler and L.P. Dumoulin brought home the top 10.
The race was green flag Lap 21 to Lap 287, which led to the field easily getting strung out on the .333-mile oval. Even though Hathaway received the free pass under the last caution, he had no shot to challenge Tagliani with just a few laps left in the race as he would have had to restart at the tail end, so he elected to pit for fuel along with everyone else and protect his position. Thus, even with the late-race caution, Tagliani’s victory was essentially a foregone conclusion.
The Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville will premiere on TSN on June 28 at 1 p.m. ET and on RDS2 on July 25 at 2 p.m.
The Canadian Tire Series will return to the track on July 5 for the Ecko Unlimited 100 at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pres. by Mobil 1-Leland Industries 300 pres. by Johnsonville
Unofficial Results
Saturday At Sunset Speedway
Innisfil, Ont.
Lap length: 0.333 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (4) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Chevrolet, 300 laps, 68.542 mph.
2. (9) Jason Hathaway, St. Thomas, Ont., Chevrolet, 299.
3. (3) Cayden Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 299.
4. (2) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 298.
5. (16) J.F. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 298.
6. (1) Gary Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Chevrolet, 297.
7. (5) Alex Labbe, Victoriaville, Que., Dodge, 297.
8. (12) Marc-Antoine Camirand, Saint-Leonard-d’Aston, Que., Chevrolet, 296.
9. (19) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 295.
10. (7) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 295.
11. (10) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ont., Ford, 293.
12. (18) Dwayne Baker, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 293.
13. (20) Erica Thiering, Sherwood Park, Alta., Ford, 292.
14. (11) Matthew Scannell, Rockwood, Ont., Dodge, 292.
15. (15) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 291.
16. (8) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 244.
17. (13) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Ford, 140, suspension.
18. (17) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 122, transmission.
19. (6) Anthony Simone, Aurora, Ont., Dodge, 81, overheating.
20. (14) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Dodge, 64, mechanical.
Race Statistics: Time of Race: 1 hour 27 minutes 27 seconds // Margin of Victory: 1 Lap // Fastest Qualifier: G.Klutt * (0.000 mph, 14.758 seconds) // Caution Flags: 2 for 21 laps. // Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers. // Lap Leaders: S. Steckly 1-60; C. Lapcevich 61; S. Steckly 62-63; C. Lapcevich 64-107; A. Tagliani 108-300.
Standings: 1. J. Hathaway, 126; 2. G. Klutt, 122; 3. S. Steckly, 112; 4. D. Kennington, 110; 5. J. Dumoulin, 110; 6. L. Dumoulin, 107; 7. A. Ranger, 100; 8. A. Labbe, 97; 9. C. Lapcevich, 95; 10. M. Scannell, 95.
By Jason Cunningham / NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
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