@NASCARHomeTrack • @GP3R • #CanAm50 • #NPS • #NASCAR • DAYTONA BEACH, FL – After finally scoring his first NASCAR Pinty’s Series win last month in Saskatoon, Josten’s Rookie of the Year leader Cayden Lapcevich will try and score another win this Sunday in the Can-Am Le 50 Tours at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec.
If the teenager can pull off the win on the historic track, he would become the second rookie driver to win this race at Kevin Lacroix scored his second victory of the season in this event last year. Lacroix became the first driver to win two races in his first year of competition in 2015 and he joins Lapcevich in the ROY battle.
The Saint-Eustache, Quebec, driver won his first E3 Spark Plugs Pole Award during the recent western swing at Edmonton International Raceway and he’ll join several of his fellow racers from his home province looking for a win.
Among them will be Alex Tagliani and Andrew Ranger. Ranger enters the weekend as the points leader with Lapcevich second. Ranger leads all competitors with four wins in the nine previous stops at GP3R.
Tagliani leads all drivers with three wins this season and is third in the standings despite missing the season opener to run the Indianapolis 500.
The GP3R is an annual festival in the city of Trois-Rivieres, nestled along the Saint-Laurent River in Quebec.
The uniqueness of the temporary street course circuit, combined with tremendous fan support, creates a high level of interest from Canadian racers and teams, making it a premiere event to win.
The NASCAR Pinty’s Series loads in on Friday for inspection day and on-track activities will begin for the series with practice and qualifying on Saturday.
RACE: Can-Am Le 50 Tours
PLACE: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Revieres, Quebec
DATE: Sunday, Aug. 14
TIME: 2 p.m. ET
TELECAST: TSN – TV: TSN, Sunday, Aug. 21, 3 p.m.; RDS, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.
TRACK LAYOUT: 1.53-mile road course
2015 WINNER: Kevin Lacroix
2015 POLESITTER: Andrew Ranger
EVENT SCHEDULE: Saturday, Aug. 13: Practice 10:15 – 10:55 a.m.; Final Practice 1:10 – 1:50 p.m., Qualifying 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 14: Driver Autograph Session 12:15 p.m., Can-Am Le 50 Tours 2:10 p.m.
TRACK CONTACT: Eric D’Argenzio, 819-370-4787, edargenzio@gp3r.com
TRACK TWITTER: @GP3R
EVENT TWITTER HASHTAG: #CanAm50
NASCAR CONTACT: Tim Southers, 386-235-3634, tsouthers@nascar.com, Twitter: @tsouth1968
Fast Facts:
The Race: The Can-Am Le 50 Tours will be the seventh of 12 events on the 2016 NASCAR Pinty’s Series schedule, and the third of four dates in the province of Quebec.
The Procedure: The maximum starting field is 34 cars, including provisionals. The first 29 cars will have secured starting positions through NASCAR Road Race style group qualifying and the remaining five spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race is scheduled for 50 laps (76.5 miles/123 kilometers).
The Track: The temporary street course of Circuit de Trois-Rivieres is an 11-turn, 1.53-mile circuit. In Trois-Rivieres – differing from many road course tracks – the cars race in a counter-clockwise motion as on oval tracks. The track’s trademark is the Porte Duplessis, a narrow concrete gateway the cars pass through in Turn 3.
The History: The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres (GP3R) began in 1967 when racing-passionate members of the Club Autosport Mauricien decided to organize a race in the streets of the city. Inspired by the Monaco race, Mr. Jean E. Ryan, Leon Dufour and Yves Girard, plus a committee of about thirty people, organized the event that has now become a unique event in North America. It is the oldest street course in North America and this year is the 47th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.
Pole Winners: The first nine Trois-Rivieres races have produced five different pole winners. Andrew Ranger set the series’ circuit qualifying record in 2015 at 66.989 seconds (82.226 mph).
Race Winners: Andrew Ranger has won four of the nine all-time GP3R Pinty’s Series events, including three in a row from 2008-10. Trois-Rivieres native L.P. Dumoulin won in 2014 and Kevin Lacroix is the defending race winner.
Can-Am 50 Tours Notes:
Ranger’s Remarkable GP3R Record: Quebec native Andrew Ranger has a podium spot locked down at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres. The road course ace has won four of the nine all-time NASCAR Pinty’s Series races on the 1.53-mile street circuit, and finished second in the other five races.
Former Champions in Field: D.J. Kennington joins Andrew Ranger and L.P. Dumoulin are former Pinty’s Series champions to have recorded a win at Trois-Rivieres. Kennington won this event in 2013.
Camirand and Cote to Make First Starts of Season: After competing full-time last year, Quebec racing veteran Marc-Antoine Camirand returns to make his first start of the season. Martin Cote is also entered to make his first start of the season in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series.
An Earnhardt Will Compete This Weekend: Jeffrey Earnhardt will head North this weekend to compete for the first time at Trois-Rivieres. Earnhardt, grandson of the late seven-time NASCAR Premiere Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr., will drive a car owned by former championship winner Dave Jacombs. He will join forces with Alex Labbe.
NASCAR Pinty’s Series Statistical Advance: GP3R
Analyzing the Can-Am Le 50 Tours
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2016) – The 2016 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will head to Quebec for the third time this season for the Can-Am Le 50 Tours on Sunday at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres. Below is a statistical look at the performance of the series and selected drivers at the track:
Can-Am Le 50 Tours Setup:
• Andrew Ranger has finished either first or second across the nine all-time events at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres.
• Trois-Rivieres native L.P. Dumoulin, winner of the Can-Am Le 50 Tours in 2014, is in search of his first trip to Victory Lane in 2016.
• 2013 Trois-Rivieres winner D.J. Kennington, second in career victories, will look to end a 33-race winless drought.
At Circuit de Trois-Rivieres:
History
• The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres began in 1967 when members of the Club Autosport Mauricien decided to organize a race in the streets of the city.
• It is the oldest street course in North America. This year is the 46th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.
• Kerry Micks won the inaugural NASCAR Pinty Series Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres event on Aug. 19, 2007.
Notebook
• The previous nine events have produced six different race victors, led by Andrew Ranger’s four triumphs.
• There have been five different pole winners in nine events. Andrew Ranger leads with three.
• Six drivers have participated in all nine previous events, and four of them are scheduled to extend the streak this week. They are Ranger, Kennington, Jason Hathaway, and J.F. Dumoulin.
• Dodge has been the winning manufacturer in six events while Ford-powered cars have won the other three.
• Ranger, in 2010, is the only driver to win from the pole.
• The .012-second margin of victory for Micks over Ranger in 2007 is the closest finish in series history.
Circuit de Trois-Rivieres Data
Race #: 8 of 12
Track Layout: 1.53-mile, 11-turn temporary street course
Race Length: 50 laps (76.5 miles/123 kilometers).
Telecast: RDS2 – Live; TSN, Sunday, Aug. 21, 3 p.m.
Qualifying/Race Data
2015 Race Winner: Kevin Lacroix, Dodge, 57.137 mph, 1 hr. 20 mins. 20 secs.
2015 Pole Winner: Andrew Ranger, Dodge, 82.226 mph, 66.989 secs.
Qualifying Record: Andrew Ranger, Dodge, 82.226 mph, 66.989 secs., Aug. 2, 2015
Active Category Leaders at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres:
Wins
1. Andrew Ranger … 4
2. L.P. Dumoulin … 1
D.J. Kennington … 1
Poles
1. Andrew Ranger … 3
2. Alex Tagliani … 1
Marc-Antoine Camirand … 1
L.P. Dumoulin … 1
Top Fives
1. Andrew Ranger … 9
2. D.J. Kennington … 5
3. L.P. Dumoulin … 4
Top 10s
1. Andrew Ranger … 9
2. D.J. Kennington … 7
3. Jason Hathaway … 6
Laps Led
1. Andrew Ranger … 95
2. L.P. Dumoulin … 43
3. Kevin Lacroix … 38
Laps Completed
1. D.J. Kennington… 407 (all)
Andrew Ranger … 407
3. Jason Hathaway … 394
Select Driver Highlights:
Marc-Antoine Camirand (No. 99 Paille GMC Chevrolet)
• Has a pole and six top five and 10 top-10s in 18 career NASCAR Pinty’s Series starts.
• This will be his first start of the season.
• Has three top 10s, an average finish of 15th and a best result of third in nine road course starts.
• Made his series debut at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres in 2013, and earned his first pole there in 2014. Finished sixth last season at GP3R for his best finish in three startsts.
J.F. Dumoulin (No. 04 Spectra Premium/Bernier Crepeau Dodge)
• Has 19 top 10s in 33 career starts with a best finish of third in the 2015 opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
• Has made three starts this season with three top-10 finishes.
• In 25 series road course starts he’s posted 13 top 10s with an average finish of 11th.
• Has five top 10s, an average finish of 13th and a best result of fourth (2014) across the nine Trois-Rivieres events.
L.P. Dumoulin (No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge)
• The 2014 NPS Champion and 2011 Rookie of the Year has four wins, a pole, 27 top fives and 41 top 10s in 66 career starts..
• Has a win (2014), a pole (2012), four top fives and an average finish of ninth in seven races at Trois-Rivieres.
Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Fast Eddie/Choko/HGC Chevrolet)
• Has eight wins, 32 top-five and 70 top 10s in 116 career starts. Is one of two drivers to compete in every race in NPS history.
• Seven of his eight series wins have come on an oval track. His lone road course win came at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last year.
• Has six top 10s, an average finish of 10th and a best result of third (2008) in the nine previous Trois-Rivieres events.
D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Edge Dodge)
• The 2010 and 2012 NPS champion. Currently is tied for second in all-time NPS career wins (19), top fives (75) and top 10s (96), and is one of two drivers to start each of the 116 all-time events. Also ranks second in series history in laps led (2,797) and fifth in poles (11).
• Has a win (2013), five top fives and an average finish of seventh in nine Trois-Rivieres appearances.
Gary Klutt (No. 59 PoolSuppliesCanada.ca/CTL Dodge)
• Has a win, a pole and 15 top 10s in 24 career NPS starts. Both the pole and win came in last year’s season-opener at CTMP.
• Has six top-10 finishes in 11 career oval track starts.
• Finished 28th in 2014 in his only previous start at Trois-Rivieres.
Alex Labbe (No. 36 Can-Am/Kappa/Cyclops Gear Dodge)
• Has one win (Chaudiere – 2016) five poles, eight top fives and 13 top 10s in 22 career starts.
• Has seven top 10s with an average finish of ninth in 12 career road course starts.
• Posted an average finish of 12th with a best result of fourth (2015) in four previous Trois-Rivieres races.
Kevin Lacroix (No. 74 Bumper To Bumper/Total/Go Fast Dodge)
• Has two wins, five top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 13 career starts.
• Recorded two wins in seven starts during his debut season in 2015. Won road races at Circuit ICAR and Circuit de Trois-Rivieres.
• Is the first driver in series history to record two victories in rookie season.
• Became the first driver in the history of the series to win a caution-free race last season at ICAR in his first start at the track.
• This will be his second career start on the GP3R road course.
Cayden Lapcevich (No. 76 Fastline Motorsports Dodge)
• Has made 13 career starts in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series and recorded his first career win at Wyant Group Raceway.
• Finished 15th in his first career start at Trois-Rivieres last year.
Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Mopar/Pennzoil Dodge)
• The 2007 and 2009 NPS champion and after his wins this season at CTMP and most recently at ICAR, holds the record for all-time wins with 22 and tied for first in poles (19). Has 52 top fives and 76 top 10s in 90 career starts.
• Has 18 wins, 18 poles, 32 races led, 28 top fives, 31 top 10s and an average finish of third in 38 career road races.
• Has finished either first (2008, ’09, ’10, ’12) or second (2007, ’11, ’13, ’14, ’15) in each of the nine all-time Trois-Rivieres events.
Alex Tagliani (No. 18 EpiPen/Riobel/Complexe JCP/Juste du Chevrolet)
• Has five wins, six poles and 15 top fives, 24 top 10s in 40 career NPS starts.
• Three of his five wins at have come on the ovals (Sunset Speedway 2015-16, Edmonton).
• Has two poles (2009, ’13) an average finish of 10th and a best result of third (2015) in six previous Trois-Rivieres appearances.
Other Driver Notes
• Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the late seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, will make his first series start this weekend.
• Martin Cote, from nearby Shefford, Quebec, will also make his first career series start this Sunday.
Up To Speed:
• The 2016 season is the first for new series sponsor Pinty’s and the 10th overall for the Canadian-based NASCAR division.
• The 2016 schedule features 12 races at 11 different tracks across five provinces and a return to the road course in Toronto as part of the IndyCar weekend in July.
• Quebec native Andrew Ranger took the lead on the penultimate lap of the season opening race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park to score the win.
• Alex Tagliani made Quebec drivers two-for-two this season after he won the Leland Industries 300 at Sunset Speedway for his third career series victory.
• Alex Labbe won from the pole last weekend in an exciting finish with rookie Cayden Lapcevich. It was Labbe’s first career win.
• Andrew Ranger retook the points lead and also became the first multi-race winner of the season with his third win at ICAR two weeks ago.
• Alex Tagliani was able to hold off Andrew Ranger in a green-white-checkered finish in the series return to the road course in Toronto for his second win of the season.
• Alex Tagliani took the lead on Lap 88 and remained out front the rest of the way to score his second consecutive win and third of the season at Edmonton. Tagliani will try and become the first driver since Scott Steckly in 2013 to win three NPS races in a row.
• After finishing second twice earlier this season, Josten’s Rookie of the Year contender Cayden Lapcevich scored his first series win at Wyant Group Raceway. He also became the youngest winner in the history of the series.
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