BOWMANVILLE, Ontario | The famous last corner of the Mosport circuit was once again the scene of a controversial scramble which will turn to Kevin Lacroix’s advantage on Sunday in the NASCAR Pinty’s series.
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It took a third overtime and six additional rounds to determine the winner.
Second a few meters from the finish, the driver from Saint-Eustache attempted a daring maneuver to overtake Ontarian Gary Klutt and save himself with the victory. The Ontarian was able to get back on the track after the touchdown, but he settled for fourth place.
Two other Quebecers, Alexandre Tagliani and Dexter Stacey, accompanied the winner on the podium. If the Laval pilot is a regular in the grandstand, this is certainly not the case for the Kahnawake resident, whose third place represents his best result in life in 62 starts.
And six at Mosport!
“This victory is deserved, said Lacroix, who signed his sixth victory at Mosport. The end of the race was intense as is often the case here, especially at the end of the race. Gary [Klutt] was fast and he managed to pass me on the last lap, before giving himself a lead of about five car lengths.
“But three corners from the end, added Lacroix, he started to slow down and be erratic. If a pilot is unable to withstand the pressure of an opponent behind him, he must give way. I tried to pass him in a respectful way, but we hung on…”
Photo courtesy John R. Walker
Lacroix takes a double shot. His 15th victory in 75 starts allows him to take the lead in the cumulative standings. He is ahead of Treyten Lapcevich (85), Tagliani and Klutt (79) and Brandon Watson (78).
Out of gas
Starting in the lead position, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin was in second place before a late restart when his car came to a standstill on the track, out of gas. However, he was able to continue his journey with the help of a tow truck.
Then, a collision involving him with Ray Courtemanche Junior and Peter Klutt robbed him of all hope of joining the main leaders of the race a few laps from the lowering of the curtain. He will eventually finish in seventh place.
Marc-Antoine Camirand, third on the starting grid, suffered the same fate as Dumoulin, also victim of a dry fuel tank on the 46th lap.
But his troubles had started long before, on lap 11, when he had to stop prematurely at the pit to replace a flat tire. Like last week, he had however occupied the first position at the start of the event. He will nevertheless finish the race, in 14th place, conceding two laps to the winner.
Stars for Montour and Bergeron
Only his second start in life in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Louis-Philippe Montour reached the finish in a brilliant fifth place after having been limited to just two laps the day before during free practice due to mechanical glitches. .
From 21st position on the starting grid, he made the best comeback among the 25 starters.
A star must also be awarded to Jean-Philippe Bergeron who was also in his second participation in the series, but his first on the road circuit.
His ninth position is a mission accomplished for the driver from Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm who had set himself the objective of a Top 10 on the intimidating Mosport track.
In return, Andrew Ranger had a difficult second outing in two weeks. Driving in second place behind Lacroix, while maintaining the pressure, the Roxton Pond driver was forced to retire on the 19th lap, victim of mechanical problems.
Among the other Quebecers, Wallace Stacey, Dexter’s father, finished 19th and Ray Courtemanche junior, injured on the 43rd lap, did not see the checkered flag