A LOOK AT 2010 THE FOUR SEASONS BY TODD LEWIS A
ll indications are that the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season
is going to be very exciting. New teams, new racers and new events all present their own unique benefits to the series, and the beneficiaries are the race fans. With NASCAR in Canada showing meas-
urable growth in the first three seasons of competition, the desire for participants to get involved can no longer be put off. Jumping in a little deeper this season are young racers like Pete Shepherd III (No. 7 National Exhaust Dodge) and Steven Mathews (No. 15 Ford). They’ll both at- tract plenty of attention at the oval events they’re participating in. As well, Canadian racing veteran John
Gaunt (No. 11 Triad Dodge) has teamed with his brother, Marty – who has made his mark with several different NASCAR teams in the U.S. – to form Gaunt Brothers Racing; a full-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series entry. Gaunt will run the oval races, while NASCAR K&N Pro Series Western Champ Jason Bowles will pilot the team’s Dodge for at least two road course events. Former Canadian national stock car
champ John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Schick Chevrolet) will also be back, full- time, to challenge for the NASCAR Cana- dian Tire Series title. Fitzpatrick has been getting plenty of no-
tice racing in the U.S. and recently inked a deal with JR Motorsports to run three Na- tionwide Series road course events, includ- ing the August race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Two-time and reigning NASCAR Cana-
dian Tire Series champion Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Lou’s BBQ Dodge) will find time in his busy NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule to participate in several Canadian Tire Series races in 2010. The popular
64 • NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES
Season “four” of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series promises even more
(l to r) Ron Beauchamp Jr., Don Thomson Jr., Steven Mathews, Jason Hathaway and Scott Steckly will help make 2010 memorable. PHOTO BY G. MACPHERSON
Roxton Pond, Quebec racer is a threat to win whenever he shows up, having earned six checkered flags in 2009. With five of the series’ 13 events to be contested on road course layouts, expect to see several ‘specialists’ in the field. Re- cently, drivers like former F1 and IndyCar champ Jacques Villeneuve and IndyCar regular Alex Tagliani have been in the field. And while several of these competitors are also capable on oval tracks, watch for Robin Buck (No. 66 Active Green+Ross / Durabody Ford), Jarrad Whissell (No. 44 SMS / Komatsu Ford), Pierre Bourque (No. 00 Telus / Aaron’s Dodge), Trevor Seibert (No. 69 Lake Excavating / Avion Dodge) and others to be in the mix at the ‘right and left turn’ events. With Andrew Ranger out of the champi-
onship picture for 2010, that leaves the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series title fight wide open, with plenty of formidable con- tenders. St. Thomas, Ontario driver DJ Kennington (No. 17 Castrol / Mahindra Dodge) has to be considered a front-run- ner for that honour. Last season, Kennington enjoyed a very successful campaign; one that featured two wins and nine top-five finishes. His win in the season-ending race at Kawartha Speedway, in September, boosted him to second in the final standings, behind Ranger. Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar /
Mobil 1 Dodge) ended 2009 with the same points total as Kennington, but was scored third overall because Kennington won two races (to none for Beauchamp). Beauchamp was consistent throughout the campaign, something that bodes well for the Mopar-sponsored driver going forward. 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
champ Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge) has teamed up with veteran Mark Dilley (No. 9 PartSource Dodge) for an as-
sault on the 2010 title. Both are proven race winners and could be a force to be reckoned with as a two-car effort. Veteran racer Kerry Micks is another perennial race-winner and championship contender who is looking to sit at the head table at the championship banquet. Micks (No. 02 BDI / Dickies Ford) is as tough as they come. We can also look for improved perform-
ance from Anthony Simone (No. 95 Si- mone Autosport Chevrolet) who claimed his first two podium finishes last season, Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-On Tools / Vortex Dodge) who scored his first NCATS win in 2008, and Sun Peaks, BC-based Jason White (No. 21 A&W Chevrolet) who continues to make great strides. And let’s not forget about Don Thomson
Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet). The Hamilton, Ontario racer won the very first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race, in 2007. The five-time Canadian National stock car champion has a total of five Canadian Tire Series wins to his credit and will likely be a title contender if ‘Lady Luck’ returns to his side. Whoever wins the 2010 NASCAR Cana-
dian Tire Series championship, that person will have earned it against one of the toughest fields in racing. Another new twist for 2010 will see the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series make its in- augural appearance on the street of Toronto, during the Toronto Indy weekend. For those who saw stock cars in action on the Exhibition Place temporary street circuit during the final years of the CASCAR Super Series, this will be a ‘must see’ event. Plenty of proven veteran talent and
strong established venues, along with a new course plus some very talented youngsters are the perfect ingredients for an exciting and successful fourth season of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series action.
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