THe TiTle CoNTeNdeRS I
By J. Wally NesBitt Photos By Paolo Pedicelli
n its five years of existence, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has crowned three deserving champions. When the green flag drops over the 2012 NCATS calendar, all three (Scott Steckly, DJ Kennington and Andrew Ranger) will be vying for further championship glory. But these three exceptional drivers will not be alone in their quest, as there are multiple challengers lining up for their chance at the 2012 title.
SCOTT STECKLY One of the best-liked drivers on the Cana-
dian Tire Series tour, Steckly is also one of the most talented and determined, as his two se- ries championships (2008 and 2011) have proven. The Milverton, Ontario resident en- joyed a 2011 campaign that was the envy of his rivals, piloting his #22 Canadian Tire Mo- tomaster / Sylvania Dodge to three pole posi- tions, three race victories (Mosport / Vernon / Antigonish) and a further six top-five finishes to conclude the season with his second series crown. A master of patience and strategy on
22 NASCAR CANAdiAN TiRe SeRieS
Scott Steckly and Andrew Ranger are in the hunt to become the series’ first three-time champion
the ovals, the only thing missing on Steckly’s resume is a road course win, but with a pair of runner-up results in 2011 (at ICAR and Toronto) this too will come, probably sooner than later, adding another weapon to the Steckly arsenal.
ANDREW RANGER Arguably the best road racer on the circuit,
Ranger must be considered an odds-on favourite to win whenever the Canadian Tire Series tour pulls into any one of the five road venues they visit this year. In only five events in 2011, Ranger won twice (Toronto and Montreal) and finished second at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres. The two-time series champion (2007/2009) is also a proven win- ner on the ovals and back in the friendly envi- rons of Dave Jacombs Racing, Ranger and the #27 Dodge / GC Racing Challenger could easily be the first three-time series champion.
DJ KENNINGTON
The St. Thomas, Ontario based driver dominated the series in 2010 to claim his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship.
Last year, he chased Scott Steckly in the standings until the final lap in search of back- to-back titles. 2011 marked the third time that Kennington had finished in second posi- tion, with 2008 his worst showing as he con- cluded his season-long effort in third place behind Steckly and Don Thomson. Equally comfortable on the road or oval courses, in 2011 Kennington scored a victory on each, piloting his #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Trac- tors Dodge to wins at Mosport (RC) and Kawartha Speedway. In 63 race starts, Kennington heads the
NCATS record books in most career top-five finishes (43) and most career top-ten finishes (51) and there is no doubt that he will be near the top of the points leaderboard again this year as he strives to match Ranger and Steckly in the championship column.
JR FITZPATRICK
Undoubtedly, there is no one hungrier for a Canadian Tire Series title than JR Fitz- patrick. A runner-up in the title chase to Ken- nington in 2010, Fitzpatrick in the #84 Equipment Express / Cambridge Rigging
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64