Fitzpatrick Wins NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2012 Season Opener

A 51-lap around the 2.46-mile road course now known as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park kicks off the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season. Formerly known as Mosport International Raceway, the prestigious venue dropped the green flag for the Vortex Brake Pads 200 on Sunday afternoon becoming the first time the series would open a season on a road course.

Taking pole on Saturday, Reigning NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion Scott Steckly driving hte #22 Canadian Tire Dodge recorded a speed of 105.484 miles per hour to take the preferred starting spot from a hungry, young JR Fitzpatrick. Taking green during a very hot but dry noon, the #84 Chevrolet of Fitzpatrick immediately set out on a mission to control the Vortex Brake Pads 200. JR Fitzpatrick was followed by Scott Steckly, Andrew Ranger, DJ Kennington and Rob Beauchamp Jr on the opening lap of the road course event that would quickly present troubles for some competitors. The #29 Dodge of Ray Courtemanche Jr was into the turn 2 wall on the second lap while the #50 Dodge of Joey McColm  trailed off the race track to draw the race's first caution on lap 4.

Going back to green flag green, Scott Steckly battled hard with JR Fitzpatrick's #84 Chevrolet. So hard fighting was Steckly that he acquired battle-scarring to the nose of his #22 Dodge early. While Steckly made a scheduled pit stop on lap 15, Andrew Ranger in the #27 GC Motorsports Dodge battled Fitzpatrick. Ranger would find a way around the #84 in turn 9 just before both race contenders darted to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park pit lane for their service. A full caution yellow on lap 18 would come out as Ron Beauchamp Jr and Jason Hathaway were leading the Vortex Brake Pad 200 field.

Robin Buck and Peter Klutt would stay out on the race day to lead the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series cars back to green on lap 22. Battling after the restart, Andrew Ranger fight with Kerry Micks resulted with both cars spinning in turn 8. At the front, JR Fitzpatrick reeled-in and Robin Buck and retook the lead on lap 24. JR Fitzpatrick's #84 Chevrolet would progressively pull away from second-place Buck in the following laps building a 3-second cushion by lap 30. A caution on lap 33 would erase the leading interval and give all competitors a breather.

For what would be an important race restart that would settle the outcome of the Vortex Brake Pads 200, 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion DJ Kennington sailed past the #84 car while Fitzpatrick and Steckly once again fought for position at the road course. Regathering himself with 6 laps remaining in the event, Fitzpatrick took back the lead in a decisive fashion.

Winning the Vortex Brake Pads 200 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, JR Fitzpatrick ends a winless drought stretching back to the Edmonton City Center Airport circuit race in 2010. Rounding out the top-5 for the Vortex Brake Pads 200 is DJ Kennington, Scott Steckly, Andrew Ranger and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.

The next race for the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will take place on June 3rd at Circuit iCAR.



2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
Vortex Brake Pad 200
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Race Results

Pos #	Car #	Driver	Sponsor/Car Make
2	84	JR Fitzpatrick	Equipment Express Chevrolet
4	17	DJ Kennington	Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge
1	22	Scott Steckly	Canadian Tire Dodge
3	27	Andrew Ranger	Dodge/GC Motorsports Dodge
10	47	Louis-Philippe Dumoulin	WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge
6	3	Jason Hathaway	Snap-on Tools/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge
7	2	Kerry Micks	Leland/BDI/PartSource Ford
9	23	Jeff Lapcevich	Tim Hortons Dodge
11	66	Robin Buck	Quaker State Dodge
8	42	Peter Klutt	Legendary Motorcar Chevrolet
5	60	Ron Beauchamp, Jr.	Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge
13	21	Jason White	A&W/Bower & Wilkins Dodge
17	56	Howie Scannell Jr.	Trailers by Jim Bray Dodge
22	10	Derek White	Burger Barn Chevrolet
23	94	Dave Coursol	Carquest Canada Dodge
20	81	Larry Jackson	B&B Decals/Speedy Auto Service Dodge
26	67	David Thorndyke	Thorsons EVT Chevrolet
16	90	Martin Roy	Veloce/Gamache Truck Center Dodge
14	44	Jarrad Whissell	SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford
18	15	Steven Mathews	Bill Mathews Motors Ford
19	7	Isabelle Tremblay	Frank Lyman Design Dodge
12	99	Steve Cote	White Motorsports Chevrolet
27	97	Hugo Vannini	Vannini Motorsports Ford
24	11	Michael Scholz	Jiffy Car Wash/Watchfinder.ca Chevrolet
25	50	Joey McColm	@JoeyMcColm Dodge
15	5	Noel Dowler	EMCO-Kohler/Rheem Dodge
21	29	Ray Courtemanche Jr.	Construction Danam Bonzai Dodge

         

Canadians Come to NASCAR Watkins Glen Races

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Converging on the 2.46-mile road course at Watkins Glen on its traditional August state of New York weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is assembling for the Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen race. Held in conjunction with the preparations of the Sprint Cup Series is the NASCAR Nationwide Series as well as the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car tour.

With the many NASCAR regulars assembled within the unfamiliar confides of a road course, the services of road racing professionals are called in as participants in the two major NASCAR organizations. For three Canadian drivers, their proficiency in handling twists and turns have earned them a call for various stock car race teams. Watkins Glen, Ron Fellows, Andrew Ranger and JR Fitzpatrick will battle in one or both NASCAR events as "Road Race Ringers".


Ron Fellows

NASCAR Sprint Cup: #36 TBR Chevrolet Impala
NASCAR Nationwide: #7 Canadian Tire Chevrolet Impala

Possessing a winning record in competition at the Watkins Glen course, accomplished Canadian driver Ron Fellows has again been a sought-after wheelman. Winning 6 NASCAR-sanctioned road course races, 5 of Fellows' victories were earned on the Watkins Glen track in either the Nationwide or truck series. Reteaming with JR Motorsports for the 2011 Nationwide Series season road courses, the driver/ownership pairing 4th season together comes with sponsorship from Canadian retail giant Canadian Tire covering the Chevy Impala.   
Ron Fellows will be making what is expected to be his only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series appearance in Watkins Glen, New York. For the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, Fellows will be driving the Tommy Baldwin Racing #36 Chevrolet Impala for the second year in a row. In last year's event, Ron Fellows and the #36 car team retired just past the halfway point suffering suspension breakage. Fellows has finished in the runner-up position twice (2000 and 2004) at Watkins Glen in the 90-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series contest.


Andrew Ranger

NASCAR Sprint Cup: #32 Bully Hills Vineyards Ford Fusion
NASCAR Nationwide Series: #53 Bollegraaf/Lobo USA Dodge Challenger

Competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event in the #53 Waste Management Dodge, the Watkins Glen weekend will also see the debut of French-Canadian driver Andrew Ranger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. To drive the #32 Ford for Frank Stoddard Racing, Ranger will be wearing Bully Hill Vineyards sponsorship. As a race team backer, Bully Hill Vineyards is a motorsport mainstay that was ridden to Watkins Glen's victory lane in previous years by Canadian Ron Fellows.

A former open wheel driver, Andrew Ranger has been fighting to earn respect as a stock car racing star. A resident of Roxton Pond, Quebec, Ranger's stock car presence is becoming best expressed on road courses. Winning multiple times on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (including the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto stock car event), other series Andrew Ranger have added as a conquest to his career were the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West divisions as well as the ARCA Racing Series with a May win at New Jersey Motorsport Park. Ranger's best finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series is a 3rd at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in 2009.


JR Fitzpatrick

NASCAR Nationwide Series: #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang

A talented stock car racing star from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, JR Fitzpatrick has demonstrated his skill on multiple occasions on ovals. Yet, Fitzpatrick is still regarded as a road race ringer on the basis of his Canadian stock car racing experience. On the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour, road and street course play a much heavier role in the championship with 5 of 12 races for the 2011 season.

For 2011, JR Fitzpatrick has been able to make more NASCAR Nationwide Series runs after teaming up with the newly-formed #67 Go Canada Racing organization. This season, Fitzpatrick's best effort with the freshman Go Canada Racing team was a 10th place result at Road America.

Racing for a third year at Watkins Glen, JR Fitzpatrick's previous two events in NASCAR Nationwide Series resulted in a 11th and a 18th place finish.

Canadians Invaded Road America Nationwide Race

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Several Canadian racers were called upon by stock car teams as a weapon of choice for the challenges of road racing competition. Having been on display in various forms of open wheel racing and sports cars, racers in Canada have an aptitude to turning left as well as right in motorsport competition. For the 2011 Bucyrus 200 at Road America, there are four drivers driving a maple leaf flag. Two of those Canadian motorsport representatives who threw an NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car around for the Saturday afternoon event were young, feisty drivers wanting to prove themselves for a full-time ride in the United States. The other two are experienced hands who have successfully demonstrated their talents to a world stage. Together, Ron Fellows, Jacques Villeneuve, JR Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger belted themselves into stock cars as part of a 42-car field at Road America.

After an extended Bucyrus 200 event, the Canadian contingent posted one of the best combined efforts for a non-American group of drivers competing on the NASCAR circuit. All four drivers (two from the province of Quebec and two from Ontario) collected a top-10 finishing position with and for their respective teams.


Ron Fellows

One of Canada's greatest chances of victory on the 4.048-mile circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin will be driving in his traditional road racing role with the JR Motorsports racing team. Driving the #7 Chevrolet, 51 year-old Ron Fellows rejoins the race organization for the fourth year in a row on the NASCAR Nationwide Series raod course events. One of the most successful Canadian drivers to compete in NASCAR with multiple victories in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Out of 6 total victories in NASCAR, the highlight was winning the Canadian NASCAR Nationwide series round at Circuit Gilles Villeneve.


Finishing second at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake, the driver of the #7 Chevrolet expressed considerable eagerness in competing for the Bucyrus 200. "Road America is one of my favorite road courses. It's long and fast, and great for racers. And the setting, in amongst lots of trees and rolling hills, is typical of a few great tracks built in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Watkins Glen (International) and Mosport (International Raceway) come to mind as similar tracks." Fellows' appreciation of great road courses was demonstrated in early June near Bowmanville, Ontario. Ron Fellows is part of an ownership group that is purchasing the historic Canadian Mosport complex.


Road America Result:

Requiring a ruling from NASCAR, Ron Fellows once again netted a runner-up spot. After the leader under caution ran out of fuel on track, Fellows' #7 AER Chevy appeared to be the new first place runner. Ruled in making an illegal yellow flag pass on the #32 Dollar General car of Reed Sorenson, Ron Fellows was repositioned in second place. Fellows in post-race expressed firm disagreement with the NASCAR ruling claiming that the #32 Chevrolet ran out of fuel.

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Jacques Villeneuve

Winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1995 along with the overall CART title, second generation Canadian motorsport pilot Jacques Villeneuve biggest moment of glory was being crowned the 1997 Formula 1 World champion. In recent years, Jacques Villeneuve has been attempting to break through on the NASCAR circuit. Making a debut in the NASCAR truck series in 2007, Villeneuve appeared Sprint Cup series-bound for the 2008 season until prospective funding did not come through for Bill Davis Racing. Hitting a dead end of that deal, Villeneuve remained hungry for opportunities to drive in stock car competitions. Driving a handful of events in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the French-Canadian driver was able to win rides in Nationwide series road races. Driving for Braun Racing for the last two seasons, Jacques Villeneuve returned to Road America in 2011 behind the wheel of the #22 Dodge of Penske Racing.

Villeneuve "I was fighting for the win in last year's race so I have some unfinished business at this event, for sure."


Road America Result:

Rebounding from trouble, Jacques Villeneuve placed the Discount Tire #22 Dodge into a 3rd place finish after 57 laps. At one point of the race, the French-Canadian driver was thrilling the crowd at Elkhart Lake by battling between his former Formula 3 rival Max Papis.

Unfortunately for Villeneuve, his podium finish resulted with many NASCAR fans and other drivers citing the 1997 Formula 1 Drivers Championship using less than kind opinions. Maybe or maybe not warranted based on the fact the #22 Dodge Challenger initiated an accident wrecking two front-runners including the #33 Chevy driven by Papis. Happening as the field took the first green-white checker restart attempt, the #22 Dodge dived to the right on the race track creating a three-wide scenario. Initially running on the pit lane exit lane, Villeneuve's right tires would clip the infield grass sending his car into the #11 Toyota of Brian Scott. In post-race, Villeneuve said he knew there was going to be trouble when his #22 Dodge touched the infield grass. Villeneuve said he didn't want to be in the position and made it clear it was not an intentional incident. Nonetheless, criticism following the chaotic NASCAR Nationwide series race would be squarely pointed at Jacques Villeneuve.


Andrew Ranger

One of the many young racing talents who attempted to break into open wheel racing, Andrew Ranger succeeded in this goal very early in his career. Finishing 4th in the 2004 Atlantic Series along with netting a rookie of the year title, Ranger was hired to a full-time Champ car ride in 2005. The Roxton Pond, Quebec native's two series in Champ car resulted with sub-par performances which was highlighted by a 2nd place in the Monterrey road course event in his rookie year. After 2006, the instability of the open wheel racing in North America as well as his less than glorious time in Champ Car caused Andrew Ranger to rethink a still young racing career.

Taking part in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Ranger would claim 2007 and 2009 championship titles. A terror on road course, the driver eventually adapted to short ovals to dominate. Last season, receiving notice from American teams, Andrew Ranger would go on to win NASCAR K&N Series events as well as a more recent ARCA race at New Jersey Motorsport Park.


Road America Result:

The 24 year-old Andrew Ranger drove the #53 Waste Management Dodge for owner Robert Torriere. Ranger's best NASCAR Nationwide Series finish heading into Road America was 3rd in the 2009 race at Montreal. Andrew Ranger could not top that effort in Elkhart Lake but did record a second-career top-10 result in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Starting 21st, the #53 car weaved to a solid 6th place.


JR Fitzpatrick

The 2006 champion of the CASCAR Superseries (the precursor to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) at just the age of 18, JR Fitzpatrick was brought on a fast track to NASCAR success which took him to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Driving first for TRG Motorsports, the driver was recruited by Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI) for select events. Scoring a best finish at Daytona International Speedway with 4th, funding cuts to KHI had JR Fitzpatrick returning to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series full-time in 2010. Almost taking the title, 2011 brought Fitzpatrick a new opportunity with a new NASCAR Nationwide team. Go Canada Racing was set up to run select events for the year with plans to run the full schedule in 2012.

Determined to be recognized as a Canadian stock car star, Fitzpatrick has resorted to strategy drivers like Kyle Busch utilize for success. Getting the most possible seat time in stock car competition, a most aggressive 2011 racing season for JR Fitzpatrick includes competing in the United States as well as back in Canada.

Road America Result:

A 3rd start of the year for the #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang, the Road America race could have went very badly for the team early. JR Fitzpatrick needed to take evasive action around the spinning #6 Ford of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Avoiding contact, Fitzpatrick continued to drive a clean race and was eventually rewarded as lead competition was whittled away in the late laps. Finishing 10th at the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Elkhart Lake on Saturday, JR Fitzpatrick jetted back to Canada in order to contend for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event on the 2.54 mile road course at Mosport International Raceway.

Steckly Scores 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Opener at Mosport



Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR



Last year, the veteran Canadian stock car racer DJ Kennington took his first national series title. Triumphing after an intense 2010 battle with J.R. Fitzpatrick for the most Northern NASCAR championship, the 2011 season is a complete reset for an all-new season-long battle. While championship rival JR Fitzpatrick has committed to running select races in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series with Go Canada Racing, DJ Kennington returns in full title defense as competitors such as Scott Steckly and Don Thomson Jr (now teamed with the #8 Dodge owned by Ed Hakonson) quickly want to assert themselves in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Kicking off the eagerly-awaited 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on a late May afternoon, the 1/2 oval at Mosport Speedway played host to a field of 19 stock cars for the Dickies 200. 

Competing in the series at least on dates not conflicting with planned runs in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, JR Fitzpatrick got back behind the wheel of the family-owned #84 Chevrolet for the first pole run of the 2011 season. In the #22 Canadian Tire Dodge, Scott Steckly started alongside Fitzpatrick as the field took green at Mosport Speedway.

While JR Fitzpatrick was able to led the race's first 10 laps, a new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competitor flew around the #84 Chevrolet for an early lead. The #15 Ford driven by freshman Steven Matthews would sprint out front of the Dickies 200 on lap 11 and hold the position for 36 laps. A rookie of the year contender for the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour, 20-year old from New Liskeard, Ontario would be strong earlier but show some inexperience as the race progressed. Making contact with fellow rookie Isabelle Tremblay on lap 45, Steven Matthews would spin his #15 car in turn 1 on lap 119 drawing the race's 2nd caution. Matthews rallied his damaged Ford back to a 10th place finish as the top rookie of the Dickies 200.

Following Steven Matthews' time at the front, reigning 2010 champion DJ Kennington surged to the lead on lap 47 in his #17 Castro-sponsored Dodge Challenger. The #22 Dodge Challenger of Scott Steckly followed Kennington by the #15 car of Matthews as the two Chrysler products fought for the Dickies 200 lead at Mosport Speedway. Spending 11 laps out front, Kennington was overhauled by Steckly. 

With only one caution in the first half of the Dickies 200 for fluid on the race track, the yellow flag slowed the field four times at Mosport in the second-half race stage. Many of the front running cars including Kennington and the #02 Ford of Kerry Micks were involved in the late race calamity.





Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR





In the final circuits of the 200-lap event, Scott Steckly held off a last year's Kawartha Speedway winner Pete Shepherd for victory at the Dickies 200. Shepherd once narrowly able to beat the #8 Dodge of Don Thomson Jr to the line for the runner-up position. With Brad Graham collecting 4th, DJ Kennington coming home 5th and the #3 of Jason Hathaway 6th in the event, the new-for-2011 Dodge Challenger body in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series debut concluded with a sweep of the top-six positions at Mosport.  

Leading 112 of the race's 200 laps, Scott Steckly overcame pit problems in the latter half of the Dickies 200 at Mosport Speedway to collect an 8th series victory. The second time Scott Steckly won a season-opening event in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, his last time in 2008 was the stepping stone to the year's driver championship.

2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

Dickies 200

Mosport Speedway

Pos # | Car #| Driver  | Sponsor | Car Make 

1. 22 Scott Steckly Canadian Tire Dodge
2. 7 Pete Shepherd, III National Exhaust/HY-Tech Dodge
3. 8 Don Thomson, Jr. Farmers Feed Families Dodge
4. 19 Brad Graham Holmar Plumbing Dodge
5. 17 DJ Kennington Castrol Edge Dodge
6. 3 Jason Hathaway Snap-on Tools/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge
7. 84 JR Fitzpatrick Equipment Express Chevrolet
8. 23 Jeff Lapcevich Tim Hortons Dodge
9. 60 Ron Beauchamp, Jr. Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge
10. 15 Steven Mathews Bill Mathews Motors Ford
11. 5 Pete Vanderwyst EMCO Dodge
12. 99 Derek White Mohawk Market Chevrolet
13. 2 Kerry Micks Dickies/Beyond Digital Imaging Ford
14. 7 Isabelle Tremblay Groupe Beton Brunet/ADF Diesel Ford
15. 21 Jason White A&W Dodge
16. 55 Dexter Stacey WJS Motorsports Dodge
17. 82 Dave Connelly Schneider's Dodge
18. 9 Mark Dilley Rheem/PartSource Dodge
19. 97 Hugo Vannini Vannini Motorsports Ford

2011 Plans for Go Canada Racing Announced; Two Sprint Cup Runs Planned

Photo Credit: Greig Reekie

This past weekend's NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Nashville Superspeedway marked the inaugural outing for the #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang. A team founded by Canadian investment firm co-founder Steve Meehan, the new Nationwide Series race team was assembled around Canadian stock car prospect J.R. Fitzpatrick. In the Nashville 300 race last Saturday, Fitzpatrick and the #67 Go Canada Racing team qualified 21st. In their first field test as a full-fledged organization, the efforts over the race's 300-miles secured a 27st place finish 4 laps down to Nashville winner Carl Edwards. While the team was disappointed not to experience breakaway success, the #67 Canadian-based NASCAR Nationwide Series team completed the final distance of their initial event. 

Determined to build on their first track appearance, Go Canada Racing has announced plans for 9 additional NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2011. Consisting of 6 ovals and all 3 road courses, the team's next race will by the May event at the one-mile Dover International Speedway. JR Fitzpatrick will wheel the #67 stock car in these Nationwide Series races having competed on all tracks with exception of Chicagoland in either previous NASCAR Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series events.

JR Fitzpatrick and Go Canada Racing will also vie to be part of the August NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Ponoco Raceway as well as the road course at Watkins Glen. Qualifying for either of these races will be a significant first for the race team and Fitzpatrick.


NASCAR Nationwide Series

May 14- Dover International Speedway (Dover, DE
Jun 18- Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn, MI)
Jun 25- Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI)
Jul 16- New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH)
Aug 20- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, QC, Canada)
Sep 17- Chicagoland Speedway (Chicago,Il)
Oct 1- Dover International Speedway (Dover, DE)
Nov 12- Phoenix International Raceway (Phoenix, AZ)
Nov 19- Homestead-Miami Speedway (Miami, FL)


NASCAR Sprint Cup
Aug 7- Pocono International Raceway (Pocono, PA)
Aug 14- Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY)

Go Canada Racing a Go at NASCAR Nationwide Race in Nashville

Photo Credit: Greig Reekie

At this moment, a Canadian national election is playing out with various parties vying to convince the North American country's people that their beliefs best represent Canada. Attempting to ignite the notions for what Canadian values are most important, candidates challenge the for the heart and soul of Canada for a nationwide vote. Well over 800 kilometers away from the Windsor/Detroit border crossing, an patriotic surge of Canadian spirit will ride around a 1.25 mile oval this weekend as part of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville.

Announced this Tuesday, a co-owner of multi-billion dollar financial firm Investment Planning Counsel has pursued a new, personal venture. Entering the very competitive NASCAR stock car racing circuit, Canadian business Steve Meehan unveiled his Go Canada Racing team. Selected to drive Meehan's Canadian stock car racing is stand-out JR Fitzpatrick.

A champion of the 2006 CASCAR Super Series (now reorganized as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), the youthful talent of Fitzpatrick has not been a phenomenon limited only to the top side of the 49th parallel. Driving a NASCAR Camping World Series Truck for TRG Motorsports at the Daytona 250-mile race in 2009, JR Fitzpatrick not only survived the high-speed competition but firmly challenged the more veteran stock car drivers. Fitzpatrick finished 4th in that race which kicked off some initial interest later from the Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI) race team. Though JR Fitzpatrick and KHI were able to compete several races together in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and two Nationwide Series road races, the pairing never reached full potential. KHI decided late in 2009 to divest themselves from driver development and focused solely on placing established drivers to please sponsors. Returning to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series full-time in 2010, Fitzpatrick regrouped for a title-contending season with two wins.

Delivering JR Fitzpatrick his dream position for competing in a major United States NASCAR tour, the Go Canada Racing team have matched the 22-year old driver with experienced crew chief Newt Moore. Enthusiastic about the team, Fitzpatrick responds "Steve has put together an outstanding team and given us the tools to succeed in this sport. We have a great crew, a great car, and a great team, and I'm looking forward to competing with some of NASCAR's best, starting this weekend in Nashville."

Debuting at the Nashville Superspeedway's NASCAR Nationwide Series race on April 23rd, Go Canada Racing will wear a white #67 Ford Mustang with bright red details. A highly ambitious operation, Go Canada Racing is not the first Canadian owner/driver combination to run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series tour. Oshawa, Ontario's car owner and past driver Randy MacDonald has employed fellow countryman on two occasion. Reigning 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion DJ Kennington drove many races for MacDonald Motorsports from 2007 to 2009. Current French-Canadian INDYCAR driver Alex Tagliani also joining the team for the 2009 Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

Based heavily on Canadian symbols and people, even the car number of the Meehan-owned team is significantly Canadian. The number '67' represents the year in the 19th century when Canada proceeded to becoming an independent nation.

Due to NASCAR's commitment to provide a 43-car field in the Nashville 300, the #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang is assured a starting spot for this first outing. Through two Friday practice sessions for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, JR Fitzpatrick placed 25th and 33rd fastest on the timing charts. Competing against some of the best stock car racing drivers and teams, Go Canada Racing understands success will be hard-earned. Comparing the race teams in the United States to the organizations in Canada, Fitzpatrick says "I think the competitiveness in the United States is the major difference. In Canada you go out each week and there are 5-10 guys that are going to be your main competition. In the states you have 25 guys that you are racing each week."

Showing endurance through harsh winters and ruggedness interacting with a vast country like fellow country mates, it is impossible to believe that Fitzpatrick or anyone in the entire freshman Canadian racing team will bow to this challenge. As team owner Steve Meehan iterates, 7 million avid NASCAR fans in the true north strong and free will support the #67 Ford Mustang.

Shepherd Claims First NASCAR Win at Kawartha; Kennington First Championship



Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR

 After 12 races in the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, the final race at 0.375 mile Kawartha Speedway wraps up Canada's major stock car racing tour with drivers still desiring to prove themselves. As some drivers will want to end the 2010 season with a hard-earned top result, two drivers have a championship honour where only one driver will hold the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series crown. DJ Kennington or JR Fitzpatrick sparred all season long in the points with Fitzpatrick's #84 Chevrolet gaining an advantage on road courses while Kennington's #17 Dodge found the edge on oval tracks.


Though JR Fitzpatrick is skilled on ovals, the circle tracks appeared to be a liability to the Cambridge, Ontario native's title hopes. With three ovals concluding the 2010 NASCAR Canada season, Fitzpatrick continued to lead points following the first of those races at Barrie Speedway. However, a moment of lost power at the Riverside Speedway race in Nova Scotia gave Kennington's Castrol Edge car the edge needed to take the points lead entering Kawartha with a 40-point margin.

Prepared to make JR Fitzpatrick's job hard to reclaim the points lead at the last minute, DJ Kennington nailed down the fastest lap in qualifying for the Kawartha 250 race with the preferential lead at the start. As Kennington beat out Ron Beauchamp Jr to take pole, JR Fitzpatrick timed into the field 8th place with odds for the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series title apparently dwindling.

Once the flag dropped, Kennington led the first 53 laps until the second caution provided an ideal time for the #17 Dodge to pit. After one lap where Donald Chisholm stayed out for 1st place, Kennington would resume at the front for an additional 25 laps.

Showing himself to be the class of the field, the #17 Dodge would relinquish the top position for the Kawartha 250 running order without the knowledge the Castrol Edge time in the lead had concluded the this late afternoon event. Breaking DJ Kennington stranglehold on the lead position of the Kawartha Speedway, Brad Graham in the #19 Dodge took the front spot for 11 laps. Following Graham, 2nd place in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points JR Fitzpatrick emerged to take the top spot on lap 91 gaining a valuable 5 point bonus for leading.

Involved in the first two cautions of the Kawartha 250, the #7 Dodge of Peter Shepherd appeared to be having a lousy outing at the 0.375 mile track. A young Canadian stock car driver limited to only a partial schedule this season, Shepherd started 6th in the event hoping to parlay some fast practice speeds into a solid race run. Despite being caught up in two incidents, Shepherd and his #7 car crawled back on both occasions placing himself into contention not only for a top-10 run but perhaps a victory. Several laps after a restart, Peter Shepherd launched past Fitzpatrick on lap 109 to lead for the first time in the Kawartha 250.

Transitioning through the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series finale, DJ Kennington was 11th and JR Fitzpatrick was 17th on lap 130 following a caution called for the #13 car of Trevor Monaghan. Through the final 120 laps, both drivers proceeded back into the top-5 for the final laps as Fitzpatrick run 2nd on track with Kennington in 4th. While Fitzpatrick's 2nd place position in the white flag lap wasn't effort to catch DJ Kennington in the points, insult to injury was added by the #02 Ford of Kerry Micks. Fighting for the runner-up spot into turn 4, Micks impacted with the #84 Chevy leading to Fitzpatrick's car spinning. With the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season starting at Delaware Speedway with Micks looping Fitzpatrick, some bad feelings fester on the impact as Micks takes the 2nd spot and the #84 of Fitzpatrick crosses the line in 15th place.

Winning the Kawartha 250 as a dark horse, Peter Shepherd led 124 of the race's 250 laps in his #7 Dodge taking the lead for the final on lap 214 en route to the checkered flag. Experienced in NASCAR south of the border when the Brampton native was hired by Roush Racing from 2006 to 2007, this win at the Kawartha Speedway is his first touring series trophy from a NASCAR-sanctioned event.

Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR

Placed in 3rd in the final results in the Kawartha 250, DJ Kennington triumphed in the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship points. Taking honours 87 points ahead of JR Fitzpatrick at the end, Kennington and the #17 Dodge team celebrates a long-fought first national stock car championship. A mainstay the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series since the foundation in 2007, Kennington was more importantly long-time competitor in tour's predecessor series known as the CASCAR Super Series. Since the mid-1990s DJ Kennington campaigned a #17 Dodge with Castrol sponsorship starting as a very young driver. Still only 33 year old, Kennington is officially the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion.
In the final race of the season, Mark Dilley and Don Thomson Jr. rounded out the top-5. 6th through 10th consisted in the order of Scott Steckly, Jason Hathaway, Jeff Lapcevich, Ron Sheridan and Ron Beauchamp Jr.

Andrew Ranger Rolls to Win at Trois Rivieres

Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/ NASCAR

Clinching his second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship last season, the young Andrew Ranger heard the call of the richer stock car racing scene of the United States. Spliting his time stock car racing between the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the NASCAR K&N Racing Series for 2010, Ranger's open wheel road racing background came in extremely handy south of the 49th parallel taking victories at Infineon Raceway and Lime Rock Park. Returning as reigning champion to Canada when running a handful of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races with a #27 Dodge, the Roxton Pond, Quebec native had already accomplished a flag-to-flag victory on the Honda Indy Weekend race. By doing so, Andrew Ranger completed an unreached feat of becoming the first driver to win in the both the NASCAR K&N East and West series as well as the Canadian Tire Series in a single year.
The 8th race of the 13 date 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, Trois Rivieres' GP3R 100 transpires on the oldest running temporary street course race in Canada. With history dating back to 1967, the 1.53 mile track played host to a Canadian whos-who of racing including Gilles Villeneuve, Alex Tagliani and Ron Fellows. Like the Toronto street course, the stock cars would be involved in a practically draining but brief 42-lap event.

Andrew Ranger returns just as the stock car racing tour concluded a two-race Western Canadian oval track stint. Apart from Ranger's appearance, the most concentrated focus has been on the tight 2010 championship fight between DJ Kennington and JR Ftzpatrick. After the Edmonton road race, the #84 Schick Hydro Chevrolet driven by Fitzpatrick held the lead in the points standings but Kennington has since launched himself into the points lead driving the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge. Qualifying 2nd, Fitzpatrick was positioned to make some serious gains on Kennington back on the road courses. In that same qualifying session, Ranger took his 3rd pole piloting the  #27 Jacobs Racing team's limited season.

Well-positioned at the beginning of the GP3R 100 on Circuit de Trois Rivieres, Andrew Ranger's attempt at a second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory for 2010 was hindered from the start.  Seeing opportunity immediately on lap 2, JR Fitzpatrick dived on Ranger through turn 6 allowing the #84 Chevy to grab the lead. Caught off-guard by the early race pass, Andrew Ranger slipped into the barrier. While suffering only minor damage along the drive side his #27 Dodge, Ranger lost a multitude of positions. By lap 6, Andrew Ranger was resuming the event in 6th place but was out of touch with the lead pack consisting of Fitzpatrick and the #02 Ford of Kerry Micks. The Ford/Chevrolet battle was fought valiantly at the front with leading 26 laps between the Micks and Fitzpatrick. By lap 13, the Dodge of Andrew Ranger continued his recovery emerging to 4th place chasing down Jason Hathaway seeded in 3rd place.

A caution for the stopped #77 vehicle of Isabelle Temblay allowed the teams to regroup on lap 16. With three yellow flags slowing the GP3R 100, the timing for each stop set up some priceless moments for the NSACAR Canadian Tire Series stars a golden opportunity to improve their position. Once the green flag flew following the first caution, Ranger successfully bypassed Hathaway's #3 Dodge for third.

Winding up at the halfway point, the race course challenged the mechanics of certain stock cars. Former Montreal Canadians hockey player Patrice Brisebois and Antony Simone were early race retirements. Also requiring extended service, the #4 Chevrolet of Don Thomson Jr. fell more than 12 laps off the lead. Thomson Jr. has been weathering an extremely tough 2010 season where the Home Hardware Chevrolet seems plagued with troubles.

JR Fitzpatrick led GP3R 100 event when caution fell for the second time for debris. The lap 28 restart would become the single definingmoment for the Trois Rivieres NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race. Three-wide between Fitzpatrick, Micks and Ranger, the fight prevailed in the favour of Andrew Ranger making a full recovery from his early race misadventure. Ranger's retaking of the lead position survived a the 3rd and final caution. Kerry Micks' Ford took second away from Fiztpatrick's Chevrolet.

Finishing 3rd, JR Fitzpatrick's race did not go the way the 2006 CASCAR Super Series champion would has preferred. Souring the podium effort was the knowledge that 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series title leader DJ Kennington finished one position behind Fitzpatrick's #84 car. However, gaining 15 points on Kennington, Fitzpatrick has closed the gap by a single point.

Finishing 3rd through 10th, Jeff Lapcevich, Scott Steckly, J.F. Dumoulin, Jason Hathaway, Peter Klutt and Mark Dilley crossed the Trois Rivieres finish line.



Next on the schedule for the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the Dickies 200 at the Mosport Speedway oval this saturday.

Steckly Skates Past Kennington for Motoplex Speedway Win

Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Returning to a circle track, the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series arrives to the half-mile oval Motoplex Speedway in Vernon, British Columbia to shake off their cobwebs within the A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300.

Five races in the books, the overall driver's points in the series reflects a spirited bout formulating between two Canadian wheel men identified with first name initials. Heading into Motoplex Speedway, young stock car hot-shoe J.R. Fitzpatrick held an advantage on the furiously determined D.J. Kennington by a fragile margin. With two wins on road course events in 2010, Fitzpatrick and his #84 Schick Hydro Chevy struts into the A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300 with momentum of the Edmonton Indy weekend win for the series. However, with Kennington winning the last oval round at St. Eustache, the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge had the advantage turn to their side. Reinforced by the pole position with a track record time, D.J. Kennington was well-positioned to make up some ground for in pursuit of his long-eluded Canadian national stock car championship.

As the 300 scheduled laps started at Motoplex Speedway, D.J. Kennington led the field around the half mile track for all the first 178 laps of the A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300. As Kennington presided out front, the big battle on the oval saw 2nd place change hands between four drivers. Scott Steckly, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Mark Dilley and Don Thomson Jr. were all involved in this fight for runner-up. With the first caution dropping on lap 107 for debris and the second on lap 133, Jason Hathaway driving the #3 Snap-on Tools/ Rockstar Energy Dodge was given a free pass back onto the lead lap. Hathaway would become a major factor in the second part of this 300 stock car race.

As Kennington led this NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event from the flag, a lap 177 caution involving a three car wreck provided a pivotal race change. With a pit stop due, the leaders pitted with the #17 first onto pit road but leaving out third. Jason Hathaway's team sent the #3 Dodge out first with the #84 Chevrolet sandwiched between the Dodge-branded stock cars. When the green returned, Fitzpatrick snuck by Hathaway for crucial one lap (earning 5 bonus points in the process) but would not be able to hold the spot as Hathaway retook the lead for an additional 28 laps. A thrilling chance for lead in 2010, the black and gold #17 Dodge chased down Jason Hathaway. With Kennington's speed, the lead change was inevitable that the #17 car would reclaim the top spot. As foreseen, D.J. Kenningston rolled past the #3 car on lap 220.

As Kennington reassumed the lead through the final stage of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Motoplex Speedway, his would not be able to leave his competitor behind through this second run. Searching for a 2010 victory, Scott Steckly's Canadian Tire Dodge made some swift moves promoting ratcheting up the heat on the Castrol Edge #17 car. In a matter of 8 laps, Steckly moved from 3rd to 1st taking the lead in lap 236. Remaining defiant to through the final laps, Kennington worked over the #22 Dodge hard but Scott Steckly masterfully prevented the #17 Dodge from leading any more than lap 257. With a lap 294 spin for John Gaunt, the leader was challenged by a green-white-checkered restart to resolve the A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300. Into extra laps, Steckly held off the charge of D.J. Kennington through the final to green flag laps rewarding the Canadian Tire-sponsored driver with his first 2010 win.

Through the final distance, Jason Hathaway found an opportunity to brilliantly steal the 2nd place finish from D.J. Kennington. Finishing 3rd, Kennington would benefit from a late struggle of J.R. Fitzpatrick who was holding on to his #84 Chevy to come home 7th. In the updated points standing for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, only 7 points now separate top-charting Fitzpatrick from D.J. Kennington. Rounding out the top-five finishers at the Motoplex Speedway was Don Thomson Jr and Mark Dilley.

Guided to Saskatoon for the series' next round at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour has only 4 days to ready for the Velocity Prairie Thunder.

JR Motorsports Fellows and Fitzpatrick Goes to Ottawa

Photo Credit: Max d'Orsonnens

With the two Canadian IndyCar visits for 2010 now in the history books, the NASCAR Nationwide visit to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in late August is one of several major auto racing visits left up north. For the August 28-29th event, J.R. Fitzpatrick will be competing in the #7 Chevy wearing Schick Hydro colours while Fellows will be driving the #88 Canadian Tire Chevrolet Impala SS.

Making a special stop in the Canadian nation's capital, the JR Motorsports teammates for the upcoming Canadian round Ron Fellows and JR Fitzpatrick made a special pitch. Promoting the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, the event will take place on August 28-29 down the road to Montreal, Quebec just about a two and a half hour drive from Ottawa. Posing on Parliament Hall (Void of many politians as the government gatherings are on summer break), Fellows and Fitzpatrick also made stops at local media outlet including sports/talk radio station The Team 1200.

On a personal note, I have recently had the privilege of meeting both drivers at the recent Honda Indy of Toronto event. While I've written profiles of each driver which resulted in two separate articles (Fitzpatrick's profile graced the inner pages of Canadian motorsport publication PRN Magazine and Fellow's interview can be found on this website.) it was my first face-to-face experience with two of Canada's more talented racers. You can count on XSL Speed Reporter's attention on the upcoming work of these as well as other Canadian drivers.

J.R. Fitzpatrick Wins NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race at Edmonton

Photo Credit: Perry Nelson/NASCAR






For the second straight weekend, the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series play companion to the IZOD IndyCar Series. Offering a stark departure to the open wheel racing on the Edmonton City Airport race circuit, the Canadian Tire 100 presented by Konica Minolta unleahed the clumzy handling full-bodied stock cars around the converted road course.

In a late morning Sunday, 22 NASCAR Canadian Tire series cars started the 100 mile, 32 lap affair was led from pole by the #84 Schick Hydro Chevrolet Impala of J.R. Fitzpatrick. Finishing 8th a week ago on the streets of Toronto, Fitzpatrick's effort was soured in the late stages by a poor restart. Coming back with a vengence at Edmonton early, Fitzpatrick held off second place's #02 Ford of Kerry Micks.


An unique sight seeing the stock cars run within the long and wide airport circuit, the race would ultimately be less attractive in a competitive context. Hindered by only one caution flying through the course of the Canadian Tire 100 presented by Konica Minolta, the stopped #1 car of Daryl Harr on lap 18 would also be in a very short field of non-finishers in the event. Though the Edmonton City Airport circuit did not breeding a large number of quality passing, there were a number of drivers who experienced some impressive runs. Having started 3rd, Anthony Simone would find his way around Kerry Micks for the second place position. Simone would finish in the runner-up spot tying his series-best effort scored at the Trois Riviere event August 2009. In another impressive run after a top-10 in Toronto, Trevor Seibert drove the #69 Dodge to 4th behind 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champ Scott Steckly.

Leading all 32 laps, J.R. Fitzpatrick took the his #84 Chevy to victory ahead of Simone. Defending his 2009 victory, Fitzpatrick's 2010 win at Edmonton comes as he progresses through a hard charge for his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship (However, Fitzpatrick did win the final CASCAR Superseries title back in 2006 just before the tour was absorbed into NASCAR Canada).

JR Motorsports Unleash All-Canadian Driver Duo for Road America Nationwide Race

Photo Credit: James H. Heine/Editorial Solutions

While the Canadian Olympic hockey team gold metal performance demonstrated in Vancouver this past winter what we can do together as a country, the motorsport world has shown similar instances where a united front of Canada's best athletes. For this weekend's inaugural NASCAR Nationwide series round on the 4-mile Road America road course, the high-profile race team of JR Motorsports has entered two well-versed Canadian stock car drivers into their multi-car team. Taking part in the Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday is Cambridge's J.R. Fitzpatrick and Mississauga's Ron Fellows.

Though sharing their Canadian nationality, Ron Fellows and J.R. Fitzpatrick share little else other than JR Motorsports-prepped Chevrolets. At age 50, Ron Fellows comes from strong footing in sports car racing to effectively spoil the show against NASCAR regulars. Successfully scoring victory in 6 total races in major NASCAR competition (4 Nationwide Series and 2 Camping World Truck races) Fellows is a designated road ringer at almost every NASCAR road race held for more than a decade. Joining JR Motorsports for the 3rd consecutive season, Fellows will be driving the #88 Chevrolet Impala sponsored by AER Manufacturing, a long-time affiliate of Fellow's racing career. Confident on the recent working relationship Fellows has with JR Motorsports, the more veteran Canadian said "I’m very optimistic on our chances for a solid run at Road America. With the powerful Hendrick horsepower we have under the hood and solid preparation the No. 88 AER team offers, we have as good a shot as anyone in the field to go to victory lane."



NASCAR Public Relations


J.R. Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, is a 22 year-old aspiring stock car great looking to break into the full-time ranks of one of NASCAR's top touring series. Thanks the Canada's wide variety of road courses on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule, Fitzpatrick has more than average experience turning left and right in stock car competition. Remarking first that he spent a week in a simulator and a long Thursday practice getting accustomed to the 4-mile Road America Circuit, Fitzpatrick continued “This is a great opportunity for me, and I’m excited to drive the No. 7 Schick Hydro Chevrolet. As a driver, surrounding yourself with good people and good equipment is all you can really ask for, and we’ve got that with JRM. Schick Hydro has been a wonderful sponsor of mine for some time, and I’m thankful to them for making this possible." Fitzpatrick will be taking the #7 Schick Hydro Chevrolet around Road America Saturday in hopes to once again add some luster to his NASCAR career south of the 49th parallel. His best finish so far is a 4th place finish in 2009 at the Camping World Truck Series in Daytona.



Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Perhaps the first time a major NASCAR series multi-car team has enlisted two Canadian drivers to run a race weekend, other avenues of auto racing have seen great triumphs result through the partnering of Canadian drivers. Among the most high-profile occurred during the days of the Players-sponsored Forsythe Racing days. First showing future Canadian talent Jacques Villeneuve accompanied by fellow French-Canadian Claude Bourbonnais. In 1998, when Forsythe Racing's CART World Series effort expanded to a second team, Patrick Carpentier was added alongside Greg Moore. With Carpentier remaining with Forsythe Racing for 7 seasons, he would also be paired with current IZOD IndyCar driver Alex Tagliani and 2003 Champ Car crown holder Paul Tracy. 22 CART/Champ Car victories were gained through the 7 seasons of Forsythe's year of two Canadian drivers. In one major triumph, the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP675 class victory was obtained by the Canadian-owned Multimatic Motorsport team contending with country-bred drivers John Graham, Scott Maxwell and Greg Wilkins.

Apart from Road America, JR Motorsports has also involved themselves with another young Canadian stock car driver Steve Arpin who has driven a handful of oval events so far in 2010. The ARCA regular Arpin will be present at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin track this weekend. Their will also be an additional Canadian in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide event as former F1 drivers champion Jacques Villeneuve suits up for the #32 Dollar General Toyota of Braun Racing (the same team Villeneuve logged a 4th place finish at Montreal last season.

Fitzpatrick Flies to Mosport Win for NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR

Since NASCAR installed themselves within the Canadian stock car racing landscape when they acquired CASCAR in 2007, differences remain apparent when racing amongst the True North Strong and Free. The most obvious eccentricity within the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the compilation of road courses. Out of 13 NASCAR Canadian Tires series races in the 2010 schedule, 5 occur on road or street course. Following the opening round at Deleware Speedway where DJ Kennington drew first blood on the 2010 season, the stock car series find themselves racing on the Mosport road course for the second race on the schedule, the Vortex Brake Pads 200.

Providing a large 26-car field, the starting grid was topped by 2-time and reigning NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion Andrew Ranger making one of what will be a few visits back to Canada (Ranger is now racing within the NASCAR K&N East Series). Taking pole with a red #27 Dodge, Ranger showed little rust taking an early lead before a quick caution brought the field together again. Having started alongside Andrew Ranger for the Vortex Brake Pads 200 was the #84 Schick Hydro Chevrolet of JR Fitzpatrick. Following a 2nd place finish at Deleware where Fitzpatrick overcame an early spin-out, the young Cambridge native plans a stronger set of race laps early will allow him a one position improvement on the race results. Thanks to the early caution which wrapping up on lap 5, JR Fitzpatrick would motor around Ranger on the restart to take the race lead.



Photo Credit: Matthew Manor/NASCAR

A tamer race than the yellow-flag laden season opening event, the Mosport road course saw only two cautions. The second fell on lap 18 when Jarrad Whissell's #44 Ford met a wall. After several cars made pit stops including JR Fitzpatrick, the Mosport race was reset with American driver Jason Bowles leading Pierre Bourque. Driving the #11 Triad Racing Technologies Dodge driven by John Gaunt, the Ontario, California driver Bowles put on an incredible show rising from an 11th place starting spot to be a race front-runner. While JR Fitzpatrick's Chevrolet would find a way around Bowles' Dodge on lap 28, the #11 would remain near the front settling for a stunning 3rd place finish.

Leading the final 22 laps, JR Fitzpatrick crossed the line first in front of Andrew Ranger for the Vortex Brake Pads 200 victory. A hard battle for 6th place became the biggest spectacle coming to the start/finish line as #17 Castro Edge Dodge of DJ Kennington held off a valiant charge from Jeff Lapcevich's Tim Hortons Chevrolet. Rounding out the top-5 for the second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race of 2010 was Scott Steckly and Kerry Micks.

After two races, JR Fitzpatrick has been able to combine a win and 2nd place finish to take the series points lead ahead of DJ Kennington. Next for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is a return to ovals as the circuit visits Quebec's Autodrome St Eustache on July 3.

DJ Kennington takes NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Opener at Delaware Speedway

Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Winter disappeared early in Ontario but the wait for NASCAR stock car action in this province waited until this weekend. Set-up for their 2010 season opener, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series were set loose on the 1/2 mile short oval of Delaware Speedway. As shiny, brand new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series machines assembled to for their first race, the field of drivers sported some of Canada's best established stock car drivers as well as a few future stars. Three driver, D.J Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Peter Shepherd III, return to 2010 race action in the Canadian Tire Series after venturing into the United States through the past few years. For most of the drivers, the Keystone Light 200 at Delaware Speedway represents the first time of 2010 to shake off the cobwebs through eight months of stock car racing hibernation.

D.J. Kennington scored the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pole position for 2010 leading a strong 23-car grid for the Saturday night 200 lap affair at the Delaware Speedway. It only took two laps for the season's first caution to fly as 3rd place #02 Kerry Micks got into the 2nd place #84 Chevrolet of J.R. Fitzpatrick. While the #84 sustained no major damage and was able to continue, NASCAR officials wisely enacted a rough driving penalty on Micks requiring the #02 BDI/Dickies Ford to make a stop and go pit stop after the lap 7 restart. This first caution of the night would be far from the only incident on the night for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competitors. In all, 13 cautions consumed half the race distance of the Keystone Light 200.



Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR


Through the first 1/3 distance, DJ Kennington's #17 Castrol Edge Dodge had the edge on the stock car field. He led from lap 8 through to lap 75 until NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2010 rookie Steven Mattews took the lap lead for a brief one circuit. As the #17 Dodge of Kennington required service on pit road, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Peter Shepherd exchanged the lead from lap 91 to 114. Longtime NASCAR Canadian Tire Series mainstay Jim Lapcevich in the Tim Hortons #23 Chevrolet also claimed a few laps as the leader.

As the lead was beign tossed between drivers, Mark Diley and the #9 Partsource/ Exide Batteries Dodge would pass Shepherd on lap 131. Through a 24 lap stint, another 2010 rookie Ron Sheridan followed Diley in his outing at Delaware. Mark Diley's run out front was ended shortly later a lap 144 accident involving four vehicles (Brennan Didero, Steve Matthews, Scott Steckly and Donald Chisholm). Sheridan would get his chance to lead for 3 laps before Mark Diley returned for the top spot. That too was short-lived as a Dodge Vs. Dodge battle mounted with D.J. Kennington retaking the lead just one lap later.



Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Into the final laps of the Keystone Light 200, a late-race caution where the #95 Chevrolet of Anthony Simone collided with the backstretch wall allowed a duel between Kennington and J.R. Fitzpatrick. The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge of Kennington maintained his 1st place proceeding to win at Delaware Speedway. Having been a 1996 CASCAR Sportsman Series at Delaware, D.J. Kennington has won his 17th race in the CASCAR/NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in his 17th year of competition. Rounding out the top five was J.R. Fitpatrick, Jeff Lapcevich, John Gaunt and Peter Shepherd.

Starting on an oval, next week the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series resumes on the 2.46 mile road course of Mosport International Raceway for the Vortex Brake Pads 200.

JR Fitzpatrick to Drive NASCAR Nationwide Series Road Courses with JR Motorsports

Photo Credit: NASCAR


Announced today, 21 year-old Canadian stock car driver J.R. Fitzpatick will be returning South for some NASCAR action in 2010. Cambridge, Ontario native Fitzpatrick has been named to the #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for the 3 upcoming road course events. Wearing Schick sponsorship, J.R. Fitzpatrick will roll-off in the #7 car starting with the inaugural Nationwide Series race on the Road America 200 at Elkhart Lake on June 19th followed by the Zippo 200 at Waltkins Glen and completed with the August 29th's NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal. “J.R. is a talented young driver, and we look forward to giving him the chance to drive some upcoming races for JR Motorsports,” JR Motorsports general manager Kelly Earnhardt said in the news release.

“This is a great opportunity for me, and I’m excited to drive the No. 7 Schick Canada Chevrolet,” Fitzpatrick commented. Looking forward to the ride with his second high-profile effort in the major realm of NASCAR, J.R. Fitzpatrick remains mindful and gracious for this opportunity. “As a driver, surrounding yourself with good people and good equipment is all you can really ask for, and we’ve got that with JRM. Schick Canada has been a wonderful sponsor of mine for some time, and I’m thankful to them for making this possible.”


Last season, Fitzpatrick racing situated heavily in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Starting off with TRG Motorsports' short-lived truck team, fortunes picked up for the skillful Canadian driver as he received the invitation to drive selected races for Kevin Harvick Incorporated championship truck team. Despite some respectable runs on tracks he's never even visited, J.R. Fitzpatrick was unceremoniously released from the truck ride as KHI the team was more interested in fielding Sprint Cup Series regulars than developing young stock car talent.

Though Fitzpatrick's abilities on ovals is present with his high-profile 4th place finish in the 2009 Daytona truck race, J.R. Fitzpatrick ability on the road courses has been well-documented on the road courses of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series where he's captured his past two event victories at Mosport in 2008 and last season's NAPA 100 in Montreal.

In the past two seasons, JR Motorsports has made an incredible contribution to fostering Canadian stock car racing talent. Heading into Darlington, Steve Arpin will be driving his 3rd start in the #7 Chevrolet for 2010. JR Motorsports has also acquired the services of the most accomplished Canadian road racers with Ron Fellows for the past two seasons. This partnership included a memorable victory in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. It was unclear whether there will be a Canadian pairing within the JR Motorsports team.

JR Fitzpatrick splits from Kevin Harvick Inc

Confirmed by Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI), JR Fitzpatrick tenure with the championship-winning Camping World Truck Series team has ended following the truck race at New Hampshire. Having run 6 truck race and 2 Nationwide series road course events in 2009, 21 year old Fitzpatrick's best finish was 11th place on two occasions at Dover and Bristol.

No reason for the parting was given but KHI operations have been affected by the trouble of the American auto industry. Fitzpatrick's part time development driver role with the team may not have corresponded with competitive demands. Too many times in NASCAR, the youth success of Kyle Busch and Joey Logano sets the rookie bar way too high as teams expect instant performance from drivers like Fitzpatrick. Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Harvick himself will take over races Fitzpatrick planned to run through the reminder of 2009.

The 2006 CASCAR Superseries (now NASCAR Canadian Tire series) champion, JR Fitpatrick has traveled south to run in one of NASCAR's prestigious touring series. Having started the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the #7 truck for TRG Motorsports netting a career-best fourth place finish at the season opening race at Daytona.

For this weekend's Talladgea truck race, JR Fitzpatrick will again have a chance to demonstrate his restrictor plate prowess be driving the Keselowski #29 Chevrolet with Equipment Express sponsoring the effort.