Two oval doubleheaders and one road-course event in three different provinces are on the NASCAR Canada schedule this July. For three-time series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, the two races held last Saturday, July 4, at Autodrome Montmagny will not rank among his fondest memories because of incidents beyond his control. However, they still allowed the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab to remain in the Top 3 of the championship standings heading into a highly anticipated weekend: the series’ return to the beautiful permanent road course at Calabogie next Sunday, July 19.
After finishing on the podium in Nova Scotia at the end of June, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin arrived at Montmagny knowing he had a car capable of continuing the fight at the front. But several factors caused him to fall back in the order. “Near the end of the race, I was running eighth because I was dealing with an understeering car. A caution then came out, and since nothing seemed to indicate that pit road was closed, it was the perfect opportunity to come in for adjustments without losing more than one position. Unfortunately, I was still penalized because, according to the officials, pit road was closed, even though there was no light or flag indicating it, only an official who was apparently signaling between Turns 2 and 3. I have to admit I didn’t understand that decision, but it resulted in me losing a lap. That put me back in 20th on the restart. Any hope of a podium was gone, but I was still able to recover and finish eighth,” explained Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.
For the second race of the evening, the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab started from the fifth row. The start was chaotic, as the driver on the outside of the front row slowed when the green flag waved, triggering a chain-reaction incident among the drivers behind him. “The front of my car was damaged, but I decided to continue. Early in the race, I was battling with the #9 and #28 cars. The #28 then hit the side of my car, which knocked it completely out of alignment. It was truly a racing incident, and I’m sure there was nothing intentional on his part, but unfortunately it ruined my race, and I ended up finishing ninth”, adds Dumoulin.
Louis-Philippe Dumoulin is now turning his attention to Calabogie, a road course that will be used in its 2.8-kilometre short configuration for the NASCAR Canada event on the weekend of July 17, 18 and 19. “Montmagny was frustrating because we had the car to contend for more podium finishes. But on road courses, the season has started well with a second-place finish at Mosport (CTMP) last May. I’m hopeful that Calabogie will be another event where the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab will shine. Everyone at Dumoulin Compétition is doing everything possible to make that happen,” concluded Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.
This event will mark the end of the first half of the 2026 season, the seventh of 14 races. Currently third in the championship standings and just one point behind second place, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin will be on track along with approximately 30 other drivers beginning Friday, July 17, for two 45-minute practice sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Two additional 45-minute practice sessions are scheduled for Saturday at noon and 1:00 p.m., before qualifying begins at 5:25 p.m. The green flag for the 50-lap race will wave at 2:10 p.m. on Sunday, July 19.