HISTORY: NASCAR PINTY'S SERIES

The 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.

U.S. PRESENCE

Over 16 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. 

NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES FIRSTS

First Woman to qualify for a race: Ashley Taws, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, August 2008
First Josten’s Rookie of the year: J.R. Fitzpatrick
First United States Race: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, September 2018
First Woman to lead a lap: Julia LandauerJukasa Motor Speedway, 2019

YEAR-BY-YEAR: NASCAR Pinty’s Series Results & Point Standings

NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES STATS AND RECORDS

*as of March 2023*

Number of Series Races: 189

Number of Drivers to Race in the Series – 215 Drivers 

CHAMPIONS

Year

Name

Car Owner

Crew Chief

2022

Marc-Antoine Camirand

Jean Claude Paillé

Robin McCluskey

2021

L.P. Dumoulin

Marc-Andre Bergeron

Robin McCluskey

2019

Andrew Ranger

Doug Kennington

Dave Wight

2018

L.P. Dumoulin

Marc-Andre Bergeron

Robin McCluskey

2017

Alex Labbé

Alain Lord Mounir

Mario Gosselin

2016

Cayden Lapcevich

Sherri Lapcevich

Jeff Lapcevich

2015

Scott Steckly

Scott Steckly

Randy Steckly

2014

L.P. Dumoulin

Marc-Andre Bergeron

Mario Gosselin

2013

Scott Steckly

Scott Steckly

Randy Steckly

2012

D.J. Kennington

Doug Kennington

Dave Wight

2011

Scott Steckly

Scott Steckly

Guilio Montanari

2010

D.J. Kennington

Doug Kennington

Dave Wight

2009

Andrew Ranger

Dave Jacombs

Bill Burns

2008

Scott Steckly

Scott Steckly

Greg Gibson

2007

Andrew Ranger

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

2022

Brandon Watson

2021

Treyten Lapcevich

2020

-

2019

T.J. Rinomato

2018

Brett Taylor

2017

Adam Martin

2016

Cayden Lapcevich*

2015

Gary Klutt

2014

Matthew Scannell

2013

Alex Guenette

2012

Martin Roy

2011

L.P. Dumoulin

2010

Derek White

2009

Joey Hanssen

2008

Jason White

2007

J.R. Fitzpatrick

* 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

D.J. Kennington

189

Andrew Ranger

156

Mark Dilley

143

Jason Hathaway

143

LP Dumoulin

139

Scott Steckly

110

Jason White

105

 

MOST CAREER WINS

Andrew Ranger

31

D.J. Kennington 

24

Scott Steckly

19

Kevin Lacroix

17

Jason Hathaway

14

Alex Tagliani

11

L.P. Dumoulin

11

 

MOST RACES WON IN A SINGLE SEASON

D.J. Kennington

7 (2012)

Andrew Ranger

6 (2009)

Alex Labbe

5 (2017)

D.J. Kennington

5 (2010)

Scott Steckly

4 (2008) & (2013)

Kevin Lacroix

4 (2017)

Andrew Ranger

4 (2019)

*12 times in Series history has a driver had 3 race wins in a single season*

 

MOST CAREER POLE AWARDS

Andrew Ranger

28

Scott Steckly

17

J.R. Fitzpatrick

16

D.J. Kennington

15             

Kevin Lacroix

13

Alex Tagliani

11

 

MOST POLE AWARDS WON IN A SEASON

Don Thompson Jr.

7 (2008)

D.J. Kennington

5 (2010)

Andrew Ranger

4 (2010)

J.R. Fitzpatrick

4 (2012)

Kevin Lacroix

4 (2017)

 

MOST CONSECUTIVE RACES WON

D.J. Kennington

5 (2012)

Scott Steckly

3 (2013)

*17 times in Series history has a driver won 2 races in a row*

 

MOST TOP FIVE FINISHES IN A SEASON

D.J. Kennington

11 (2012)

Alex Labbe

11 (2017)

Andrew Ranger

10 (2019)

Kevin Lacroix

10 (2019)

 

MOST LAPS LED IN A SEASON

Scott Steckly

1090 (2015)

Marc-Antoine Camirand

803 (2022)

D.J. Kennington

796 (2010)

Kevin Lacroix

789 (2018)

D.J. Kennington

666 (2012)

Alex Tagliani

587 (2016)

Kevin Lacroix

581 (2019)

 

MOST CAREER LAPS LED

Scott Steckly

4829

D.J. Kennington

3568

Andrew Ranger

2683

Kevin Lacroix

2654

J.R. Fitzpatrick

2364

Jason Hathaway

2172

Don Thomson Jr.

1709

Alex Tagliani

1707

Marc-Antoine Camirand

1029

Alex Labbe

1011

 

DRIVERS TO WIN BOTH THE FINAL RACE & TITLE IN THE SAME SEASON

D.J. Kennington

2012

Scott Steckly

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*

Cayden Lapcevich

16-Years-Old (2016)

Matthew Scannell

17-Years-Old (2014)

Alex Guenette

17-Years-Old (2013)

 

OLDEST JOSTEN'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR*

T.J. Rinomato

50-Years-Old (2019)

Derek White

39-Years-Old (2010)

Martin Roy

38-Years-Old (2012)

 

YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN A RACE*

Cayden Lapcevich

16 years, 8 months

Wyant Group Raceway, July 2016

Cayden Lapcevich

16 years, 9 months

Riverside International Speedway, August 2016

Cayden Lapcevich

16 years, 10 months

Autodrome St. Eustache, September 2016

Raphael Lessard

17 years, 11 months

Autodrome Chaudière, June 2019

*Ages used recorded at the final series event of that season*

 

SMALLEST MARGIN IN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

2*

Scott Steckly over D.J. Kennington

2013

3*

L.P. Dumoulin over J.R. Fitzpatrick

2014

4

Scott Steckly over Jason Hathaway

2015

*Point standings based of a 43-1 scale*

 

CLOSEST FINISHES IN SERIES HISTORY

.012 seconds

Kerry Micks over Andrew Ranger — GP3R 2007

.015 seconds

D.J. Kennington over Don Thomson Jr. — Barrie 2010

.029 seconds

J.R. Fitzpatrick over Scott Steckly — Sun Valley 2007

.045 seconds

Peter Shepherd III over D.J. Kennington — Auto Clearing 2011

.048 seconds

Kevin Lacroix over Andrew Ranger — GP3R 2015 

 

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

Cayuga International Speedway (2007)

16

Barrie Speedway (2007)

14

Barrie Speedway (2008)

13

Three Occasions (2010, 2011, 2012)

 

WORST STARTING POSITION FOR A WINNER

18th

Scott Steckly

Wyant Group Raceway (2009)

16th

Derek Lynch

Cayuga Speedway (2007)

16th

Andrew Ranger

Circuit ICAR (2012)

 

LARGEST NUMBER OF CARS TO START A RACE

37

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2011)

36

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2013)

34

Montreal (2009) - Montreal (2010) - Montreal (2012)

33

Montreal (2008) - Toronto (2011) - GP3R (2011) - GP3R (2014)

 

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RACE WINNERS (season): 8 drivers — four times

2007

Thomson Jr., Ranger, Kennington, Fitzpatrick, Micks, Lynch, Dilley, Steckly

2008

Steckly, Fitzpatrick, Thomson Jr., Tagliani, Ranger, Micks, Dilley, Hathaway

2018

Dumoulin, Lacroix, Ranger, Theetge, Powell, Tagliani, Camirand, Kennington

2022

T. Lapcevich, Lacroix, Ranger, Camirand, Kennington, Tagliani, Guenette, Watson

 

NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME RACE WINNERS (season): 3 – two times

2018

Theetge, Powell, Camirand

2022

T. Lapcevich, Guenette, Watson

 

CAR OWNERS TO WIN MORE THAN ONE TITLE

Scott Steckly

2008, 2011, 2013 & 2015

Doug Kennington

2010, 2012 & 2019

Marc-Andre Bergeron

2014, 2018 & 2021

Dave Jacombs

2007 & 2009

 

QUALIFYING RECORDS — 2023 TRACKS

Sunset Speedway - Innisfil, ON

1-lap qualifying record: 81.891 mph, 14.639 seconds (Cayden Lapcevich, June 2016)

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park - Bowmanville, ON

1-lap 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.

Practice/Qualifying Session: 85.584 mph, 15.774 seconds (Brandon Watson, June 2022)

Exhibition Place - Toronto, ON

1-lap qualifying record: 83.221 mph, 75.918 seconds (Alex Tagliani, July 2019)

Edmonton International Raceway - Wetaskiwin, AB

1-lap qualifying record: 71.919 mph, 12.514 seconds (Alex Tagliani, July 2014)

Sutherland Automotive Speedway - Saskatoon, SK

1-lap qualifying record: 82.020 mph, 14.616 seconds (Scott Steckly, July 2014)

Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières - Trois-Rivières, QC

1-lap qualifying record: 82.345 mph, 66.889 seconds (Kevin Lacroix, August 2016)

Ohsweken Speedway - Ohsweken, ON

*No official qualifying record has been set for this track. In 2022, Marc-Antoine Camirand took the pole award for the event via heat races.*

Circuit ICAR - Mirabel, QC

1-lap qualifying record: 49.943 mph, 49.304 seconds (Alex Tagliani, July 2017)

Delaware Speedway – Delaware, ON

1-lap qualifying record: 95.268 mph, 18.894 seconds (Brandon Watson, September 2022)