Two former series champions will return to NASCAR Canada competition this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), with Cayden Lapcevich and J.R. Fitzpatrick joining the field for the WeatherTech 200.
Lapcevich, the 2016 NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion, and Fitzpatrick, the 2006 CASCAR Super Series champion, will both compete with Glenn Styres Racing and Velocity Race Cars. Their return comes as part of a record-setting 39-car field entered for the penultimate race of the 2026 NASCAR Canada Series season.
For both drivers, the opportunity came through Glenn Styres, who approached them about getting back behind the wheel. While neither entered the year with a NASCAR Canada race necessarily on their schedule, CTMP provided the opportunity to return at one of the series’ most established road courses.
Lapcevich Back Behind the Wheel in NASCAR Canada
Lapcevich’s return brings him back to the series where he achieved one of the defining seasons of his racing career.
In 2016, Lapcevich captured the NASCAR Pinty’s Series championship while also earning Rookie of the Year honours. A decade later, his day-to-day role in racing has shifted from behind the wheel to working on the competition side of the sport.
Lapcevich currently serves as a Car Chief with Halmar Friesen Racing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. This weekend, however, he will return to the driver’s seat.
“I’m really excited. CTMP was always one of the ones that I had circled that I wanted to come back and do,” said Lapcevich.
A return to NASCAR Canada had not been part of his original plans for 2026. That changed when Styres approached him with the opportunity.
“I really didn’t plan on racing anything up north this year. There hadn’t been any talks about it, but when Glenn approached me and wanted to know if I wanted to go racing, it was probably the easiest yes I’ve ever said.”
Despite his time away from the series, Lapcevich is entering the weekend with his sights set on competing at the front of the field.
“I think the goal is always to win, and I think it’s achievable with all the people we have in our corner for this weekend,” said Lapcevich. “Obviously having J.R., who has been doing some road racing, will be nice, and everyone at Velocity Race Cars and GSR has been putting a lot of time into these cars so we can perform to the best of our abilities.”
Fitzpatrick Back at a Familiar Track
Fitzpatrick’s return follows a similar path. The 2006 CASCAR Super Series champion had been interested in returning to the series before receiving a call from Styres about competing at CTMP.
“Glenn Styres called me. I’ve wanted to come back for a long time, and he said he wanted to get all of his cars out and evaluate where his cars and his program are,” said Fitzpatrick.
The opportunity also aligned with Fitzpatrick’s recent racing experience. He has continued competing on road courses in recent years, making CTMP a natural location for his return.
“I’ve been road racing the last couple of years, so what better way to come back than at a track that I’ve been pretty decent at over the years,” he said.
Although Fitzpatrick has been away from NASCAR Canada competition, he has remained connected to the series and has continued following its races and competitors.
“I definitely missed it. I still watch it all the time,” said Fitzpatrick. “I still know a bunch of people who race in it and visit them, so I’ve kept up to date with the cars and what’s going on.”
With a 39-car field entered for the weekend, Fitzpatrick is approaching his return with a top-10 finish as his initial target.
“This weekend, I’d really just like to try and get a top 10,” said Fitzpatrick. “I haven’t raced with a lot of the guys that are out there, so practice will be about feeling everybody out and getting familiar with the field.”
Lapcevich and Fitzpatrick will have their first official on-track session Saturday, with practice scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET and qualifying at 4:45 p.m. ET.
The green flag for the WeatherTech 200 is scheduled to wave at 2:10 p.m. ET on Sunday. The race will be broadcast live on REV TV, TVA Sports 2 and the NASCAR Canada YouTube channel.