cOMMentary: tOdd lewis tHe Best keeP GettinG Better nascar canadian tire series commentator todd lewis looks ahead to the 2013 season
Each year in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Se- ries Presented by Mobil 1, the best racers in Canada provide us with sparkling racing ac- tion on the track along with surprises that keep us coming back for more. Entering the series’ seventh season, we can expect more of the same which is why the crowds continue to grow at the track and in terms of television viewers.
One feat we have yet to see is a driver claim
back-to-back championships. Last year’s title winner, DJ Kennington, certainly has that goal on his mind entering 2013. The veteran driver had a dream season in 2012. En route to his second career NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship, the No. 17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver set new records for most wins in a sea- son (seven), most top five finishes (11) and most consecutive victories (five). Armed with a new multi-year agreement
from primary sponsor Castrol and additional support from Mahindra Tractors, Kennington would like to continue the hot streak from last year. Others hoping to grab some of the spotlight
away from Kennington include his close friend J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Equipment Express Chevrolet), who won a pair of races in 2012. His road course victories came at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. But his hard-charging ways earned him nothing but heartache the rest of the year and Fitz- patrick enters 2103 vowing to be more patient. We’ll see if it translates into greater success. Two-time series champion Scott Steckly, driver of the No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge went without a victory last year but don’t ex- pect that to continue. Steckly is a proven com- petitor and runs up front in every race. This
cold spell won’t last forever and there’s a good chance that he or Kennington will capture their record-setting third career championship trophies, come September. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series not only races from coast to coast but attracts competi- tors from all corners of the country as well. Quebec driver Louis-Philippe (LP) Dumoulin returns for his second full season and has shown steady improvement piloting the #47
WeatherTech.ca Dodge. Driving cars prepared by Scott Steckly, Dumoulin has become a fan favourite in Quebec, especially after winning the pole in his hometown of Trois-Rivières, Quebec last season. From the west, Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Noel Dowler also begins his second full season in the No. 5 EMCO Dodge. The second gener- ation driver also turned plenty of heads last season collecting five top ten finishes including a podium result at the always tough Barrie Speedway.
And from Sun Peaks, BC, Jason White will again be behind the wheel of the No. 21 Bow- ers & Wilkins Dodge. A former rookie of the year winner, White has also shown steady progress over the last few seasons and finished ninth in the overall standings a year ago. Knocking on the door just about every race weekend is Jason Hathaway in the No. 3 Snap-On Tools / Rockstar Dodge. Hathaway scored three podium finishes in 2012 and is hungry for his second career Canadian Tire Se- ries victory. You can also look for Ron Beauchamp Jr.,
Kerry Micks, Mark Dilley, Ray Courtemanche Jr., Jeff Lapcevich and last year’s rookie of the year Martin Roy to make their presence known at the front of the field throughout the season.
Not all of the racers will compete in all 12 races on the schedule, but they are just as am- bitious and talented as those running fulltime in the series. Two-time series champion An- drew Ranger will return for select events this season including the Grand Prix de Trois-Riv- ières where he is a four time winner. Running a limited schedule but looking to make an impression this year is Alex Guenette from Terrebonne, Quebec and Cameron Hay- ley from Calgary, Alberta. Both are young, tal- ented and anxious to show their skills in front of the best in the land. For 2013, the dozen-event schedule in- cludes two races at the famed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park road course. The series kicked off there in May and will return on the Labour Day weekend, joining the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in its first foray outside of the United States.
As was the case at the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal, you can expect to see several Canadian Tire Series regulars doing double duty on Sunday, September 1, compet- ing in both the Canadian Tire Series race, as well as the historic Camping World Truck Se- ries event.
Once again this year race fans won’t miss a moment of the high speed action with every race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series being shown in high definition on TSN. Will there be a first time winner? Back-to- back championships? A third-time series champion? Who knows what surprises the 2013 season will provide for race fans. The one constant in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Presented by Mobil 1 is close competi- tion on short tracks and road courses across the country.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Presented by Mobil 1 field is deep with talented competitors, the majority of whom will challenge for wins and podiums.
56 nascar canadian tire series
Joe Hamilton
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