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 3 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, effectively 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 its 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 Alex 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 plagued 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. Andrew Ranger took control of the race before the halfway mark, with constant pressure from Tagliani. However, the veteran driver and three-time GP3R winner was forced to pit for extensive repairs when oil began leaking from his car, leaving slippery patches around 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 all in hot pursuit. Raphaël Lessard clawed his way up aboard the No. 7 Lions de Trois-Rivieres/Structure Sibel Chevrolet, not letting his sight off of the third spot held by Dumoulin.
Up front, 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 pressure get to him. A caution in the closing stage of the race would prove decisive in the outcome of the race.
On the restart, Ranger remained in the lead, while Camirand slipped to third after contact with Dumoulin in Turn 1. The infamous 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. It was a heartbreaking turn of events for the Ontario driver, who had been running solidly within the Top 5.
The final restart set the stage for a showdown between Dumoulin and Camirand. The WeatherTech Canada driver ultimately yielded to Camirand’s relentless attacks, locking in the podium for the 60 Tours Rousseau Métal. Andrew 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 de Trois-Rivières.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have taken this win in front of everyone; my friends, sponsors, supporters, and everyone who’s believed in me,” stated Andrew 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 lead in the championship with 279 points, followed by D.J. Kennington in second with 276 points and Andrew Ranger in third with 272.
The NASCAR Canada Series returns to action on Saturday August 23 with the Evirum 100 at Complexe ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec.