HISTORY: NASCAR CANADA SERIES
The NASCAR Canada Series (formerly known as NASCAR Pinty's Series), is the premier motorsports league in Canada, featuring drivers and teams from across Canada. Between May and September, the series visits a variety of tracks – ovals, road courses, and dirt tracks – over five different provinces, making it truly NASCAR’s national series in Canada.
The Series schedule requires talent, skill, and determination from the competitors, and undoubtedly, delivers excitement and entertainment for the fans.
The series receives exceptional national broadcast coverage on TSN and RDS, providing both English and French-language race telecasts to Canadians, while FloRacing streams the series’ races for fans in the U.S.
HISTORY
NASCAR announced in September 2006 the purchase of the CASCAR Super Series, the top stock-car racing series in Canada. At the same time, they announced a sponsorship agreement with Canadian Tire Corporation as the entitlement sponsor of the new series.
Andrew Ranger, in his first year of stock-car competition, won the second race on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2007. He took over the lead in the point standings after that event and never relinquished it on his way to the first championship.
In December of 2015, NASCAR in Canada announced a new name and entitlement sponsor – one that’s familiar to race fans across the country. NASCAR and Pinty’s Foods Inc. announced a six-year series entitlement sponsorship agreement of NASCAR’s Canadian-based series. In April 2022, a five-year extension was announced.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original schedule was replaced by the Pinty's FanCave Challenge. A series of three double-headers, six races in total. The series returned to Sunset Speedway for the first time since 2016 and made its debut at Flamboro Speedway.
In 2022, drivers made the trip to the island of Newfoundland and Labrador, travelling over the ocean to race at Eastbound International Speedway for the first time. The series also made its debut on dirt at Ohsweken Speedway last year.
On August 16, 2023 at Ohsweken Speedway the series celebrated its 200th race. D.J. Kennington also celebrated 200 career starts at the event, being the only driver to make a start in every single race.
November 21, 2023 the series announced a rebrand with a new name, colors and logo, and a move to a presenting partner model with Pinty's Foods, which served as the series entitlement partner since 2016, and Evirum.
U.S. PRESENCE
Over 17 seasons, multiple drivers have made the leap to compete in the highest levels of NASCAR.
D.J. Kennington, Gary Klutt, and Andrew Ranger have made starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2017 Series Champion, Alex Labbe currently races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series part-time, with Dexter Stacey, Alex Guenette, J.R. Fitzpatrick, D.J. Kennington, Donald Theetge, L.P. Dumoulin, Gary Klutt, Andrew Ranger, J.F. Dumoulin, Scott Steckly, Alex Tagliani, and Don Thomson Jr., also making starts in the series.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Raphael Lessard won in the series at Talladega in 2020. Alex Tagliani came close to a win in the series at CTMP in 2019, but finished second. Kennington, Ranger, Klutt, Stacey, Guenette, Jason White, and Ray Courtemanche Jr, have also made starts in the series.
J.F. Dumoulin is a two-time class winner in the Rolex 24 at Daytona - 2007 GT Class Winner and 2004 SGS Class Winner
Alex Tagliani also had an extensive career in IndyCar, picking up five top-fives, 25 top-tens and 3 pole awards, including for the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
A number of American Drivers have also made a start in the series including, Ken Schrader, Jason Bowles, Austin and Ty Dillion, Jeb Burton, Spencer Gallagher, Kaz Grala, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst, Chandler Smith, and Julia Landauer.
In 2023, Schrader became the first U.S. driver to win a race in the NASCAR Pinty's Series after his victory during the Freshstone Dirt Classic at Ohsweken Speedway on August 14th.
NASCAR CANADA SERIES FIRSTS
First Race Winner: Don Thomson, Jr.
First Pole Winner: Peter Gibbons
First Champion: Andrew Ranger
First Josten’s Rookie of the year: J.R. Fitzpatrick
First United States Race: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, September 2018
YEAR-BY-YEAR: NASCAR Canada Series Results & Point Standings
NASCAR CANADA SERIES STATS AND RECORDS
*as of November 2023*
Number of Series Races: 203
Number of Drivers to Race in the Series – 225 Drivers
CHAMPIONS
|
Year |
Name |
Car Owner |
Crew Chief |
|
2023 |
Scott Steckly |
Jeff Lapcevich |
|
|
2022 |
Jean Claude Paillé |
Robin McCluskey |
|
|
2021 |
Marc-Andre Bergeron |
Robin McCluskey |
|
|
2019 |
Doug Kennington |
Dave Wight |
|
|
2018 |
Marc-Andre Bergeron |
Robin McCluskey |
|
|
2017 |
Alain Lord Mounir |
Mario Gosselin |
|
|
2016 |
Sherri Lapcevich |
Jeff Lapcevich |
|
|
2015 |
Scott Steckly |
Randy Steckly |
|
|
2014 |
Marc-Andre Bergeron |
Mario Gosselin |
|
|
2013 |
Scott Steckly |
Randy Steckly |
|
|
2012 |
Doug Kennington |
Dave Wight |
|
|
2011 |
Scott Steckly |
Guilio Montanari |
|
|
2010 |
Doug Kennington |
Dave Wight |
|
|
2009 |
Dave Jacombs |
Bill Burns |
|
|
2008 |
Scott Steckly |
Greg Gibson |
|
|
2007 |
Dave Jacombs |
Bill Burns |
Scott Steckly holds the record for most Series Championships (4), with Andrew Ranger and L.P. Dumoulin close behind (3).
Crew Chiefs, Robin McCluskey and Dave Wight are tied for most Championships (3), while Bill Burns, Mario Gosselin, and Randy Steckly each have two.
Due to COVID-19, 2020 was an abbreviated schedule, consisting of six exhibition races, called the Pinty’s FanCave Challenge – Jason Hathaway was the Champion of the shorten schedule.
Josten’s Rookie of the Year
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
- |
|
2019 |
|
|
2018 |
|
|
2017 |
|
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
* there was no Rookie of the Year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shortened season
Cayden Lapcevich is the only driver in Series history to win both Josten’s Rookie of the Year Honours and the Championship in the same year.
MOST CAREER STARTS
|
203 |
|
|
170 |
|
|
153 |
|
|
143 |
|
|
143 |
|
|
122 |
|
|
110 |
|
|
105 |
|
|
102 |
|
|
100 |
MOST CAREER WINS
|
31 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
11 |
MOST RACES WON IN A SINGLE SEASON
*12 times in Series history has a driver had 3 race wins in a single season*
MOST CAREER POLE AWARDS
|
28 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
12 |
MOST POLE AWARDS WON IN A SEASON
|
7 (2008) |
|
|
5 (2010) |
|
|
Treyten Lapcevich |
4 (2023) |
|
4 (2010) |
|
|
4 (2012) |
|
|
4 (2017) |
MOST CONSECUTIVE RACES WON
*19 times in Series history has a driver won 2 races in a row*
MOST TOP FIVE FINISHES IN A SEASON
|
11 (2023) |
|
|
11 (2012) |
|
|
11 (2017) |
|
|
10 (2019) |
|
|
10 (2019) |
MOST LAPS LED IN A SEASON
|
1149 (2023) |
|
|
1090 (2015) |
|
|
803 (2022) |
|
|
796 (2010) |
|
|
789 (2018) |
|
|
666 (2012) |
|
|
587 (2016) |
|
|
581 (2019) |
MOST CAREER LAPS LED
|
4829 |
|
|
3569 |
|
|
2800 |
|
|
2695 |
|
|
2364 |
|
|
2172 |
|
|
1779 |
|
|
1709 |
|
|
1575 |
|
|
1418 |
|
|
1028 |
DRIVERS TO WIN BOTH THE FINAL RACE & TITLE IN THE SAME SEASON
|
2023 |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2013 |
HIGHEST RACE FINISH BY A FEMALE: 8th by two drivers — Erica Thiering (September 2014) & Isabelle Tremblay (June 2011)
HIGHEST POINTS FINISH BY A FEMALE: Isabelle Tremblay (12th in 2011)
YOUNGEST FEMALE TO START A RACE*: Sara Thorne - 18 (Eastbound Speedway, 2022)
YOUNGEST JOSTEN'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR*
|
16-Years-Old (2016) |
|
|
17-Years-Old (2014) |
|
|
17-Years-Old (2013) |
OLDEST JOSTEN'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR*
|
50-Years-Old (2019) |
|
|
39-Years-Old (2010) |
|
|
38-Years-Old (2012) |
YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN A RACE*
|
16 years, 8 months |
||
|
16 years, 9 months |
||
|
16 years, 10 months |
||
|
17 years, 11 months |
*Ages used recorded at the final series event of that season*
SMALLEST MARGIN IN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
|
2* |
2013 |
|
|
3* |
2014 |
|
|
4 |
2015 |
*Point standings based of a 43-1 scale*
CLOSEST FINISHES IN SERIES HISTORY
|
.012 seconds |
|
|
.015 seconds |
|
|
.029 seconds |
|
|
.045 seconds |
Peter Shepherd III over D.J. Kennington — Auto Clearing 2011 |
|
.048 seconds |
MOST LEAD CHANGES IN A SINGLE RACE
|
17 |
Twice — (Barrie 2008 & Delaware 2009) |
|
16 |
Six Different Times |
|
15 |
Three Different Times |
MOST CAUTIONS IN A SINGLE RACE
|
18 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
13 |
WORST STARTING POSITION FOR A WINNER
|
18th |
||
|
16th |
||
|
16th |
LARGEST NUMBER OF CARS TO START A RACE
|
37 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
34 |
|
|
33 |
Montreal (2008) - Toronto (2011) - GP3R (2011) - GP3R (2014) |
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RACE WINNERS (season): 8 drivers — four times
|
Thomson Jr., Ranger, Kennington, Fitzpatrick, Micks, Lynch, Dilley, Steckly |
|
|
Steckly, Fitzpatrick, Thomson Jr., Tagliani, Ranger, Micks, Dilley, Hathaway |
|
|
Dumoulin, Lacroix, Ranger, Theetge, Powell, Tagliani, Camirand, Kennington |
|
|
T. Lapcevich, Lacroix, Ranger, Camirand, Kennington, Tagliani, Guenette, Watson |
NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME RACE WINNERS (season): 3 – two times
|
Theetge, Powell, Camirand |
|
|
T. Lapcevich, Guenette, Watson |
CAR OWNERS TO WIN MORE THAN ONE TITLE
|
Scott Steckly* |
2008, 2011, 2013, 2015 & 2023 |
|
Doug Kennington |
2010, 2012 & 2019 |
|
Marc-Andre Bergeron |
2014, 2018 & 2021 |
|
Dave Jacombs |
2007 & 2009 |
*In 2023, Scott Steckly became furthered his record of being the winningest car owner in series history (5).
QUALIFYING RECORDS — 2024 TRACKS
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park - Bowmanville, ON
Group qualifying record: 108.006 mph, 81.962 seconds (Gary Klutt, May 2019)
Autodrome Chaudière - Vallée-Joncton, QC
1-lap qualifying record: 69.482 mph, 12.953 seconds (Alex Labbe, June 2016)
Eastbound International Speedway – Avondale, N.L.
1-lap qualifying record: 85.584 mph, 15.774 seconds (Brandon Watson, June 2022)
Riverside International Speedway - Antigonish, N.S
1-lap qualifying record: 83.083 mph, 14.429 seconds (D.J. Kennington, August 2015)
Ohsweken Speedway - Ohsweken, ON
*No official qualifying record has been set for this track. In 2023, Ken Schrader and Treyten Lapcevich took the pole award for the events, respectively, via heat races.*
Sutherland Automotive Speedway - Saskatoon, SK
1-lap qualifying record: 82.020 mph, 14.616 seconds (Scott Steckly, July 2014)
Edmonton International Raceway - Wetaskiwin, AB
1-lap qualifying record: 71.919 mph, 12.514 seconds (Alex Tagliani, July 2014)
Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières - Trois-Rivières, QC
Group qualifying record: 82.786 mph, 66.533 seconds (Marc-Antoine Camirand, August 2023)
Delaware Speedway – Delaware, ON
1-lap qualifying record: 95.268 mph, 18.894 seconds (Brandon Watson, September 2022)
Group qualifying record: 79.429 mph, 64.631 seconds (Marc-Antoine Camirand, August 2023)
Autodrome Montmagny Speedway
*Track Record has yet to be set*