SASKATOON, SK (July 25, 2019)- — LP Dumoulin and Andrew Ranger came to Wyant Group Raceway with one goal in mind: win.
Doing so in completely different fashions, both drivers tasted victory in the Velocity Prairie Thunder Twins 125s. Dumoulin breaking an eight-race winless streak, while Ranger took command of the Pinty’s Series points standings.
The first 125 lap feature saw the drivers battling each other as well as the wrath of Mother Nature. With the looming threat of rain on the horizon, the intensity was high from the drop of the green flag. Kevin Lacroix passed Dumoulin, the pole sitter, on the first lap and led the first 83 laps.
His No. 74 Bumper to Bumper/Total/Gates Dodge was in control, that is until LP Dumoulin got to his back bumper. Dumoulin used his No.47 WeatherTech Canada/ Bellemare Dodge to get past Lacroix, pulling out to a few car lengths lead before the rain hit on Lap 166.
The massive storm swept through Saskatoon, cutting the race short, giving Dumoulin his first win of the season. It was the eighth of his career and second at Saskatoon.
“It’s really a great moment for the WeatherTech/Bellemare car,” Dumoulin said. “We were leading there with I think 9 laps remaining. The car was fast, we had to get through a couple cars in traffic but still every time we were just by ourselves the digging some laps, we felt like were in a very good position to win it.”
Kevin Lacroix finished second with Andrew Ranger joining the podium. Alex Labbe and Jason Hathaway rounded out the top five.
Brett Taylor and Donald Theetge were sixth and seventh. Jamie Krzysik, Marc-Antoine Camirand and Mark Dilley completed the top ten.
Following a delay to dry the track and drain the infield, race No. 2 got underway under the lights. The Saskatoon race fans stuck out the delay and packed the stands and were rewarded with quite a show.
Andrew Ranger started the race on the pole after registering the quickest lap in the first race. And his speed showed early, dominating the early stages of the race. But Ranger’s teammate D.J Kennington stayed locked to his bumper for most of the night, doing his best to turn the race into a two-horse battle.
In the end, nobody could catch Ranger, who scored his 26th series win.
“Oh it was an awesome race, with my teammate DJ Kennington, to have a nice battle together,” Ranger said. “I want to thank all of my crew, the Mopar guys did a great job, they’ve been working very hard. We finished third in the first race and first in the second race. It’s fantastic, I’m very happy about my team going to Edmonton on Saturday.”
Kennington would settle for second despite leading 20 laps. With a standout performance, Brett Taylor can now call himself a NASCAR podium finisher. Taylor brought his No. 46 Wing ‘n’ It Restaurants/Fast Eddie Speedwear Dodge home third, his best career finish.
LP Dumoulin and Kevin Lacroix rounded out the top five. 22 Racing teammates Alex Tagliani and Donald Theetge were sixth and seventh. Jamie Krzysik, Marc-Antoine Camirand and Alex Labbe rounded out the top ten.
The race also marked the 100th career start of CBRT driver Jason White. White, who finished 14th, was honoured with a signed flag following the race.
The series wraps up the Western Swing on Saturday July 28 at Edmonton International Raceway.
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