The twists and turns of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park were filled with action this past weekend.

The NASCAR Pinty’s Series was at the historic venue for its second last round of the season.

With major championship implications hinging on the results, there was a lot of pressure on the contenders throughout the weekend.

Practice
Saturday practice was an eventful session, topped by Marc-Antoine Camirand with Treyten Lapcevich right behind him.

It sets a captivating tone to the rest of the weekend, showing that both drivers have the speed to be dueling at the front come qualifying and the race.

Camirand’s 1:22.161 put him .281 seconds ahead of his championship rival and .421 quicker than Alex Labbé in third. Rookie Kyle Steckly and Andrew Ranger rounded out the top five.

The youngster put in the fourth fastest time of a 1:22.662, .025 ahead of fifth and five tenths off the top of the leaderboard.

One shock in the session was Alex Tagliani, who ended up 12th fastest and was 1.530 seconds off the pace of Camirand.

Qualifying

One of the most important qualifying sessions of the year took place Saturday evening, helping set the stage for Sunday.

One hour to determine not only the field, but also set up the battle for either a title win, or one more chance in Delaware.

In the end, it was Dumoulin landing on pole ahead of Camirand and Labbé, with Lacroix and Alex Guenette rounding out the top five.

Lapcevich put himself on the back foot for Sunday, only managing to qualify in 7th, meaning he’ll have some work to do in order to seal the title, needing to beat the St. Léonard d'Aston, Que. Native by 10 or more points.

Race

The green flag dropped and there were some early battles going on between Camirand and Dumoulin with the former taking the lead off the start until the latter made a fantastic move along the outside of turn eight to move back ahead a few laps later.

The race entered a calm state around lap 12 to 13 with green flag pit stops, until a caution came out around lap 29 for a stalled vehicle on the back straightaway.

Racing got back underway on lap 37, but the field didn’t even complete one lap before the engine on Ranger’s Chevrolet let go, spreading oil throughout turn 10, which caused the crashes of Gary Klutt and Wallace Stacey.

This incident caused a red flag, as major cleanup of the spilled fluid and stranded racecars was needed.

When racing got back underway with eight laps to go, Lacroix took the lead from Tagliani and began to check out from the field.

But there was one driver that was determined not to make this easy for him.

Dumoulin, who restarted fifth, was on a charge with fresher tires and making moves through the field. Upon getting to second, started chunking into Lacroix’s lead at a rate of around .500 seconds a lap.

By the time the white flag came out, the two were bumper to bumper heading into turn one.

After searching for an opportunity in the first two sectors, Dumoulin made his move into turn eight, going around the outside. Lacroix held firm as the two went hot into turn nine, setting up one last shot into the final corner.

It could have been a bump and run, it could have been an opportunity to get aggressive, but that wasn’t something that happened.

Dumoulin raced clean and in the end, Lacroix hung on for the win, his first of the season.

In the post-race press conference, that last lap was a topic of conversation.

“We all want to win,” Dumoulin said to reporters. “But I want to win the proper way. In the last corner there it would have been super easy to just drive into him and get the win.”

Camirand rounded out the top three and set the series’ single season record with nine podiums and 12 top fives.

This result means the title race between he and Lapcevich goes onto the final round, where he knows it will be a tall task.

“It’s going to be hard to fight against him,” said Camirand after the race. “He’s going to be pretty good over there…we’re going to push really hard to the end, and we’ll see what we can do at Delaware.”

A strong run from D.J. Kennington sees him finish in fourth while Labbé’s up and down race was punctuated with him rounding out the top five.

The 30 year-old suffered shifter problems but then recovered to lead the most laps in the race.

Points leader Lapcevich came home in sixth, having a quiet and respectable race while keeping himself out of trouble.

He will look ahead to Delaware in order to secure his first Pinty’s Series title.

Canadian driver Alex Guenette is set for his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start this Friday at the famed Daytona International Speedway. Ready to take on the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, Guenette will pilot the #91 DGM Racing Team Chevrolet-powered entry with support from Evirum and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

“I’m super excited to have a second opportunity of competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year,” expressed Alex Guenette. “Evirum has been a great partner for me in the Canadian NASCAR Pinty’s Series, and I’m very grateful to them for believing in me, along with their partner BKFC, and allowing me to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Daytona race. It’s going to be a big racing weekend for me, as I will also drive the #3 Evirum race car at the NASCAR Pinty’s Evirum 125 the next day in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.”

“Alex raced with us in Chicago and achieved an excellent result finishing 15th in difficult conditions. He’s a very talented driver, so we were happy when he accepted our invitation to drive with us again. We’re looking forward to having Alex drive our #91 Chevrolet race car this Friday at Daytona International Speedway,” mentioned Mario Gosselin, Owner of the DGM Racing Team.

The partnership in Daytona is another way to open doors south of the border for Evirum, a leader in the field of environmental brokerage with a wide range of solutions in the management of residual material, and for BKFC to promote its growing combat sports championship among NASCAR fans.

Evirum, part of Allrem group of companies, serves commercial, industrial and institutional clients, as well as racing event promoters and race track operators, among others, supporting them with their expanded recycling efforts, environmental strategies and in reaching their sustainability goals. By using the NASCAR platform to create awareness and develop opportunities throughout the United States, Evirum is increasing their existing partnership program in Canada with the NASCAR Pinty's Series where they have branding on the #24 of rookie driver Thomas Nepveu and on the #3 race car of Alex Guenette. Evirum is also title sponsor of the NASCAR Pinty's Series Evirum 125 race presented at ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

“Evirum is entering the US (United States) market, so when the opportunity to partner with Alex Guenette for the NASCAR Xfinity Daytona race was presented to us, it was in line with Evirum’s expansion strategy to extend our support to Alex beyond the Canadian NASCAR Pinty’s Series,” explained Julien Remillard, President of Evirum.

Continuing to push their brand to another level throughout North America, Evirum was a partner of the sustainability program of the past Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières 2023 (GP3R) which presented the NASCAR Pinty’s Series and is also the official residual materials manager for ICAR Complex where the NASCAR Pinty's Series Evirum 125 will be presented.

Evirum is involved in industries where there is a need and desire to become more eco-responsible while improving residual materials management efficiencies, such as NASCAR and race circuits around North America.

Said BKFC President and Founder David Feldman, “We’re very happy to work with Evirum on this tremendous NASCAR Xfinity event and their driver Alex Guenette at the Daytona International Speedway this Friday. There is a strong synergy between BKFC and NASCAR fans, both sports are all-action and very fast paced so it works for us to partner with co-sponsor Evirum on Alex Guenette’s NASCAR Xfinity DGM Racing Team Chevrolet car #91 for Daytona. We look forward to a very strong partnership with Evirum and cross-promoting at our events.”

BKFC Two-Division World Champion Lorenzo ‘The Jugguarnaut’ Hunt as well as BKFC Bombshells Kaitlyn and Alyssa will make a special guest appearance at the Daytona International Speedway to support driver Alex Guenette in his Evirum/BKFC race car.

About Evirum

Evirum, an Allrem’s company, with operation in North America, is a residual materials management broker with a wide range of services that allows for a customized new approach to sustainability and management of residual material, offering innovative solutions to minimize environmental impact and promote recycling. Committed to the preservation of the environment, Evirum strives to guide companies and individuals toward a higher standard in the areas of eco-responsibility and sustainability.

evirum.com/racing

evirum.com

About Allrem

Allrem is a Canadian private equity investment firm based in Montreal, Quebec, that focuses on strategic investments and partnerships in many industry sectors across Canada and the United States, such as real estate, waste management and environmental services solutions, sports and media entertainment, including multiple levels of sponsorship in the North American Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Series, the Canadian NASCAR Pinty’s Series, and investment in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), amongst others.

allrem.com

About BKFC

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World's Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, is the first entity sanctioned to hold regulated bare-knuckle events in the United States since 1889. BKFC is based in Philadelphia, PA, and is headed by President and Founder David Feldman.

bkfc.com

About DGM Racing

Driven by pure passion and love for everything racing, DGM Racing is a family-owned and operated business headquartered in Lake Wales, FL. Since 1990, Mario Gosselin and his wife, Michelle, have worked tirelessly to elevate DGM Racing and grow the organization each year. What started as a local hobby on the weekends in Hialeah, Florida, has grown into a powerhouse organization fielding four NASCAR Xfinity Series cars. Going into the 2022 season, the team has more than 149 Top-20 race finishes and four Top-20 finishes in driver standings between 2020-2021.

dgmracing.com

The International Center of Advanced Racing or more commonly known as Circuit ICAR, is considered one of the most unique tracks on the NASCAR Pinty’s Schedule.

Located on the former Montréal–Mirabel International Airport, in Mirabel, Quebec, the track has appeared on the series’ schedule a total of nine times, separated by two stints, and three different configurations.

From 2011 to 2016, ICAR featured a 2.113-mile layout with 16 turns. Then a year later, the track was drastically shortened to a 0.684-mile map with only seven turns.

The track then disappeared from the series schedule for two years, but later returned in 2021, with a 0.994-mile, seven-turn layout.

Throughout the years and different configurations, two drivers have dominated on the airport tarmac - Andrew Ranger and Kevin Lacroix.

While the inaugural race in 2011 was won by Robin Buck, Ranger and Lacroix have established themselves as the ones to watch when the series visits the Mirabel, Quebec.

Both have four wins at the track, respectively. Ranger has competed in all nine races at ICAR, with all his wins coming on the 2.113-mile layout. Despite a 21st-place finish in the inaugural 2011 event, he has never finished worse than fifth at the track.

Lacroix on the other hand, has finished on the podium in all five of his starts, with four wins, and one third-place finish in 2016. The Saint-Eustache, Quebec native has therefore won on every ICAR configuration, with a win percentage of 80 and an average finish of 1.4.

Now, Circuit ICAR debuts a new configuration, where drivers will be challenged to a 2.295-kilometer (1.426-mile), 12-turn layout around the completely flat road course.

Largest Field at Circuit ICAR Since 2014

With 25 cars entered, this weekend’s race will feature the biggest field at Circuit ICAR since 2014 (29 cars).

Notable drivers joining the field include 2017 champion Alex Labbe driving the No. 36 Chevrolet, and three-time NASCAR Pinty’s winner Raphael Lessard driving the No. 12 Duroking Autosport/XPN Dodge for Mathieu Kingsbury.

Also joining the field are Justin Arseneau, Louis-Philippe Montour, Herby Drescher, Dave Coursol, Sam Fellows, and J.F. Laberge.

Jacques Guenette Sr. Makes Series Debut

One driver making their first career start this weekend at Circuit ICAR is Jacques Guenette Sr., grandfather to Alex Guenette, driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet.

Guenette Sr. has ten starts in the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series from 2001 to 2005, with four podium finishes in the GTS Class from 2001 to 2003.

NASCAR Pinty’s Series etc.

Alex Guenette will have a tight turn-around to get to Circuit ICAR on Saturday morning. Guenette is set to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET in the No. 91 Evirum/BKFC Chevrolet for DGM Racing.

The Evirum 125 will air tape-delayed on TSN on Saturday, September 2 at 2:00 p.m. ET, and on RDS in Quebec on Saturday, September 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Race Evirum 125
Date / Start Time Saturday, August 26, 2023 / 5:30 p.m. ET.
Track / Location Circuit ICAR (Mirabel, QC)
TV TSN: Saturday, September 2 @ 2:00 p.m. ET.
RDS2: Saturday, September 23 @ 2:00 p.m. ET.
Live Stream Canada: TSN+
USA: FloRacing

Nouvelles et notes de la série NASCAR Pinty's - Le tracé du Circuit ICAR présente une nouvelle configuration

L'International Center of Advanced Racing, mieux connu sous le nom de Circuit ICAR, est considéré comme faisant partie des circuits uniques du programme NASCAR Pinty's.

Situé sur l'ancien aéroport international Montréal-Mirabel, à Mirabel, au Québec, le circuit a figuré au calendrier de la série NASCAR Pinty’s à neuf reprises, séparées en deux étapes, et en utilisant trois configurations différentes.

De 2011 à 2016, ICAR présentait un tracé de 3.40 km (2,113 miles) avec 16 virages. Un an plus tard, la piste a été considérablement réduite, à 1,10 km (0,684 mile), et avec seulement sept virages.

Le circuit a ensuite été retiré du calendrier de la série pendant deux ans, avant de revenir en 2021, avec un tracé de 1,599 km (0,994 mile) comprenant sept virages.

Au fil des années et des différentes configurations, deux pilotes ont dominé le tarmac - Andrew Ranger et Kevin Lacroix.

Bien que la course inaugurale de 2011 ait été remportée par Robin Buck, Andrew Ranger et Kevin Lacroix se sont imposés comme favoris lorsque la série visite le circuit de Mirabel, au Québec.

Ils ont tous deux remporté quatre victoires sur ce circuit. Andrew Ranger a participé aux neuf courses à ICAR et toutes ses victoires ont été remportées sur le tracé de 2,113 miles. Malgré une 21e place lors de l'événement inaugural de 2011, il n'a jamais terminé plus loin que la cinquième place par la suite.

Kevin Lacroix, quant à lui, est monté sur le podium lors de ses cinq départs, avec quatre victoires et une troisième place en 2016. Le natif de Saint-Eustache, au Québec, a donc gagné sur toutes les configurations du circuit ICAR, avec un pourcentage de victoire de 80 % et une moyenne de 1,4 à l’arrivée.

Aujourd'hui, ICAR inaugure une nouvelle configuration, où les pilotes devront relever le défi d'un tracé de 2,295 kilomètres (1,426 miles) et de 12 virages autour d'un circuit routier entièrement plat.

Le plus grand nombre d’inscrits au circuit ICAR depuis 2014

Avec un peloton de 25 voitures inscrites, la course de ce week-end présentera le plus grand peloton au circuit ICAR depuis 2014 (29 voitures). Parmi les pilotes qui se joindront aux réguliers de la série, mentionnons le champion 2017 Alex Labbé au volant de la Chevrolet no36, et celui qui a remporté trois courses en série NASCAR Pinty's, Raphaël Lessard, qui sera au volant de la Dodge no12 Duroking Autosport/XPN pour Mathieu Kingsbury.

Justin Arseneau, Louis-Philippe Montour, Herby Drescher, Dave Coursol, Sam Fellows et Jean-Frédéric Laberge se joindront également au peloton.

Jacques Guénette sénior fera ses débuts dans la série

Jacques Guénette sénior, grand-père d'Alex Guénette (pilote de la Chevrolet no3), prendra son premier départ en carrière en série NASCAR Pinty’s ce week-end au circuit ICAR.

Guénette sénior comptabilise dix départs en série NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car de 2001 à 2005, dont quatre podiums en classe GTS de 2001 à 2003.

La série NASCAR Pinty’s etc.

Alex Guénette devront rapidement s’adapter au nouveau tracé du Circuit ICAR samedi matin, depuis qu’il participera à une ronde de la série NASCAR Xfinity au Daytona International Speedway la veille, le vendredi 25 août à 19 h 30 HAE.

La course « Evirum 125 » sera rediffusée sur TSN, le samedi 2 septembre à 14 h 00 HAE, et à RDS au Québec, le samedi 23 septembre à 14 h 00 HAE.

Course Evirum 125
Date / Départ Samedi 26 août / 17 h 30 HAE
Piste / Endroit Circuit ICAR (Mirabel, QC)
Télévision TSN : Samedi 2 septembre @ 14 h 00 HAE
RDS2 : Samedi 23 septembre @ 14 h 00 HAE
Diffusion en direct Canada : TSN+
États-Unis : FloRacing

Toronto, Ontario – The number 87 Fellows McGraw Racing (FMR) NASCAR Pinty’s Series team is ready to travel to Mirabel, Quebec this coming weekend for the Evirum 125 at Complexe ICAR. The race is set to go green on Saturday, August 26, at 5:30 PM.

The Montréal-based mattress company, Polysleep, will also return on the 87 car this weekend as a sponsor, having extended their support after the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières.

FMR driver Sam Fellows said, “we’re really happy to have Polysleep extend their sponsorship to ICAR. Even after our struggles at GP3R they have been super supportive … they want to see us succeed and having that encouragement means a lot to the team.”

At GP3R, the number 87 Chevrolet Camaro suffered from drivetrain and power-related issues the entire weekend. Lacking power, Fellows qualified 21st and only managed a disappointing 15th place finish in the race on Sunday.

“Mentally that was really tough,” Fellows said. “We had a nicely balanced car and I was expecting to roll into GP3R and build on my past success there … but nothing seemed to go our way.”

Fellows continued, “it’s really frustrating when you don’t have the car working right you just can’t compete, but I’m really proud of our team and their resilience. This crew is passionate and dedicated and it shows through in their hard work. I know we’re going to get the results soon to prove that.”

The driver of the AER Manufacturing / GM Paille machine has made two previous starts at ICAR in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. Fellows finished 12th at the event in 2021 in his second-ever series start, and had an unfortunate DNF in 2022 after a suspension failure early in the race.

“Last year was weird because practice and qualifying got rained out so we started at the back on owners points. We were coming through the field nicely when the car broke … but I think the track races pretty well and our crew chief Mike Knott knows what we need from the car.”

The NASCAR Pinty’s Series will apparently use a new circuit configuration at ICAR this year. The length of the layout has been extended from the usual 1.8 km “roval” to a slightly longer 2.2 km “road course.”

Watch the Evirum 125 live on TSN + or on the FloRacing App. The event will also be tape-delay broadcasted by TSN and RDS the following weekend.