TROIS-RIVIERES, QC – It was once again an event to remember in the streets of Trois-Rivières, as the 29 NASCAR Canada drivers put on quite a show. Under the hot and steamy summer sun, the iconic Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières hosted a thrilling weekend where series activities were split over two days.
On Saturday, drivers took to the track for a practice session, with 2024 winner Marc-Antoine Camirand setting the pace in his Gilles Villeneuve-themed No. 96 GM Paillé Chevrolet. Hometown hero Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, at the wheel of the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada / Bellemare / Omnifab Dodge, was close behind in second, just 0.090 seconds off the top spot. Alex Tagliani rounded out the top three in the No. 80 St-Hubert / UPS Store / Bet GRW / DryShine Chevrolet.
Later that afternoon, it was time to set the grid for Sunday’s 60 Tours Rousseau Métal. Every driver had their sights set on the E3 Spark Plugs Pole Award, but it was Camirand who claimed it with a blistering lap of 1:06.377, breaking his own track record in the process. Andrew Ranger secured second in the No. 27 GM Paillé Chevrolet, with Tagliani and Dumoulin locking out the second row.
The heat and excitement reached a peak as thousands of fans packed the grandstands to cheer on their favourite drivers. When the green flag waved, all bets were off. Camirand held the lead early, but Tagliani quickly made his move, taking over the top spot within the opening laps.
The highly technical street circuit of Trois-Rivières didn’t disappoint, with drama unfolding as several cautions slowed the first half of the race. Running on alternate pit strategies, Kevin Lacroix briefly cycled into the lead before heading to pit road a few laps later. Ranger took control before the halfway mark, with constant pressure from Tagliani. However, the veteran and three-time GP3R winner was forced to pit for extensive repairs when oil began leaking from his car, leaving slippery patches on the track and triggering a red flag.
On the restart, a multi-car incident unfolded at the end of Boulevard du Carmel, a section notorious for catching drivers out. Up front, the battle intensified: Ranger continued to lead, but Camirand, Dumoulin, and Gary Klutt in the No. 59 AutologiQ / Hofmann Plastics Dodge were in hot pursuit. Raphaël Lessard clawed his way up in the No. 7 Lions de Trois-Rivières / Structure Sibel Chevrolet, keeping close to Dumoulin in third.
Camirand was relentless in his pursuit of Ranger, applying pressure lap after lap. But Ranger remained cool and collected, turning flawless laps and refusing to let the heat – literal or figurative – get to him. A caution late in the race would prove decisive.
On the restart, Ranger held the lead while Camirand slipped to third after contact with Dumoulin in Turn 1. Boulevard du Carmel claimed another victim as rookie Alexandre Fortin ended his maiden race in the wall, bringing out another caution with 10 laps to go. Trouble struck at Corner 10 for Sam Fellows in the No. 87 AER / PolySleep Chevrolet, a heartbreaking turn of events for the Ontario driver, who had been running solidly in the top five.
The final restart set the stage for a showdown between Dumoulin and Camirand. Dumoulin ultimately yielded to Camirand’s relentless attacks, securing the podium order for the 60 Tours Rousseau Métal. Ranger emerged victorious, claiming the most coveted win of the season. It was his first triumph in the streets of Trois-Rivières since 2012 and his fifth career win at the Grand Prix.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have taken this win in front of everyone – my friends, sponsors, supporters, and everyone who’s believed in me,” said Ranger. “To capture a fifth victory here is incredibly satisfying. I pushed from start to finish, and our pit stops were flawless. The championship battle is really tight right now, so it’s shaping up to be an exciting end to the season.”
With Marc-Antoine Camirand finishing second, he regained the championship lead with 279 points, followed by D.J. Kennington with 276 and Ranger with 272.
The NASCAR Canada Series returns to action on Saturday, August 23, with the Evirum 100 at Complexe ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West, and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
