2008 Preview: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Dickies 200 presented by Lucas Oil at Mosport road course

Mosport International Raceway resides within the threads of Canadian auto racing as the ultimate palace of motoring greatness. Amongst being Canada's fixture for Formula One for many years and the long standing sports car battles, Sir Stering Moss, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Stewart, and Jody Scheckter are winners of various historic races at the 2.4 mile road course located in a scenic part an hour outside of Toronto. When the stock cars of the CASCAR Super Series started racing at the track, the fish out of water syndrome of clumsy stock cars and mostly oval track racers have long provided an amusing race for fans. Last year, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series continued the tradition as Andrew Ranger slug out between him and JR Fitzpatrick in this famed road course event.

With road courses offering some of the best chances to mount a 2008 defence of his championship title, Andrew Ranger will be a favoured contender again based on his acquired road course mastery through smaller formula cars and the Champ car series. Not to be overlooked is the last year's Mosport second place finisher JR Fitzpatrick who showed considerable strength in road racing competition. In the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire series, Fitzpatrick record on in four races was one win and two top 10 finishes. Also hot on the trail of these young guns are the experienced pros of Fastline Motorsports driven by Jim and Jeff Lapcevich. Piloting Tim Horton-sponsored Chevrolets numbered 23 and 25, they always bring out their A game for road courses (or should I say, apex game).

Wild cards include Alex Tagliani running his 1st full season with Jacombs Racing. With equal equipment to teammate Ranger, he could be a major threat at race's end. Also appearing on the entry list, specifically for the first road course race of the season, is past Mosport winner Robin Buck and auto journalist/racer Pierre Bourque. Both drivers plan to overcome their limited schedules with their well-crafted road racing abilities to challenge through the 51-lap affair.

The 2008 Dickies 200 presented by Lucas Oil will also be the competitive debut of Peter Gibbons steering a Ford Fusion after a decade long commitment to being Chevrolet's vanguard for Canadian stock car racing. While Gibbons had planned to run a Ford for the road course races this season, maybe with Mosport's close proximity to the Oshawa General Motors truck plant which has just been slated for closure, the political climate of workers and union leaders may take some solace from the longtime GM racer making a partial exodus from the badge.

The weather reports almost mirror the postponed St Eustache race attempted late last month. Forecasts are favourable for Saturday afternoon qualifying, however, Sunday reflects a 40% chance of precipitation which may work into contention with the 1:30PM start time of the main event. With a little optimism, it's more than likely that we as fans of Canadian's premier stock car series can look forward to fiberglass-scrapping action we are accustomed to in the first of four NASCAR Canadian Tire Series match ups.

Again, qualifying is set for Saturday afternoon through two time trial groups for the 30 cars planned to race in the 51 laps or 200 kilometers of Mosport on Sunday afternoon. Also joining the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the Grand-Am KONI Challenge series, Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires, the Ontario Formula Ford Challenge, and the Skip Barber BF Goodrich National presented by Mazda for what is a speed-filled Father's Day Doubleheader Weekend package at Mosport.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race weekend at St Eustache was a wash out!

'Rain, rain, go away, at least come back after the race!' Perhaps similar chanting was heard throughout the weekend inside the St Eustache paddock area for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race. For the second time this weekend, the second event of Canada's premier stock car racing league will be delayed. This time, NASCAR and the short track of St Eustache, Quebec has been forced by weather to relinquish the #2 race of the season to the Mosport road course race for June 14th. According to the Autodrome St Eustache's website and http://www.flagworld.com/news/?p=1283, July 5th is tentatively scheduled as substituting for the activities on this weekend's rain out.

The rain postponement of the National Kodak 250 came with extreme opposition from a hardworking crew at Autodrome St Eustache. As rain stopped falling later Sunday morning, track officials succeeded in drying the 4/10 paved oval for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series cars only practice section. Jason Hathaway in his #3 Dodge Avenger clocked the fastest time with Alex Tagliani(committed to running his first full-time for Jacobs Racing as teammate to Andrew Ranger) and Cayuga winner Scott Steckly behind him. However, the rain returning following this track section rendered the National Kodak 250 cancelled for the weekend.

Peter Gibbons officially running Fords

For the 4 road courses, the Canadian Tire colours of Peter Gibbons will be covering a Ford Fusion body shell for 2008. In a Toronto Sun article, Gibbons cited a current horsepower disadvantage with Chevrolet engines as the reason for breaking his long dedication. Widespread speculation circulated quickly following a test at Mosport where Peter Gibbons was spotted driving a Ford Fusion in test camouflage.

Unlike in the top three NASCAR touring series, the Canadian Tire Series receives little to no official support from manufacturer Chevrolet and Ford. This allows competitor the freedom to decide without penalty which vehicle brand to run.

NASCAR, the Canadian way starts this Saturday!

Following a trend that has gripped NASCAR's premier division of Sprint Cup, Andrew Ranger made the most of the slim pickings left in North American open wheeling. In his only full season in full-bodied car racing, he had become an intimidating presence as a road course expert as well as a fearless oval racer. Entering as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series' reigning champion, the 21 year old French-Canadian is also part of another movement which may soon strengthen our presence in the top tier touring divisions of stock racing down south. Previous year's champion JR Fitzpatrick, a second generation to father John Fitzpatrick, returns in the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet. At the age of 20, JR Fitzpatrick won twice last season and appears prepared to take back the championship trophy. If not, JR Fitzpatrick's teammate 5-time champ Don Thomson Jr and his #4 Home Hardware Chevrolet may also be within striking distance of another memorable season.

While Patrick Carpentier is currently striding for improvement in this NASCAR Sprint Cup ride with Gilliet/Evernham, past Players Champ Car Racing teammate Alex Tagliani was spotted testing Ranger's Canadian Tire Series car (though, this past weekend, Tag was present at Laguna Seca's Mazda raceway coaching drivers in the Atlantic Series). Also a busy Canadian driver below the 49th, series points runner-up DJ Kennington has been making inroads to the big time in NASCAR with several good runs wheeling a Nationwide series vehicle. DJ be flying back north to drive his staple Castro Dodge Avenger again to the delight of spectators and the discontent of competitors.

While the youth crowd will become a major factor for this season, longtime Canadian stock car racing mainstay of Dave Whitlock. A three-time points winner dating back through the series' original Sanctioning body of CASCAR, Dave Whitlock's return to the #39 Dickies Dodge Avenger. Two-time winner last season Kerry Micks will continue add to his series-leading record of starts fighting in the #02 Beyond Digital Ford Fusion. Another long-time series supporter Peter Gibbons seems ready to campaign at least some races without a Chevy for the first time in a decade for Canadian Stock Car Racing. Inside Track spies caught Gibbons testing a Ford Fusion bodied racer at Mosport. Some honourable mentions for the upcoming season belongs to longtime competitor Mark Dilley and Scott Steckly, a first-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series winner after the season finale race at Kawartha Speedway.

Predicting winning teams for the 2008 Nascar Canadian Tire Series may prove very difficult considering the young champions from the past two seasons. With 13 races consisting of road courses and ovals, we can at least assume the eastern and western parts of Canada will rumble as 20-plus hungry stock car drivers compete in nearly-identical fiberglass bodied race cars.

The green flag drops on second season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series launches this Saturday (May 24rd) at the super competitive oval of Cayuga International Speedway.