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Ranger Does It Again

TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. – Andrew Ranger had to contend with a hungry Anthony Simone but held on to win the GP3R 100 in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 action from the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres (Que.) on Sunday afternoon, successfully defending his race title from a year ago in front of a crowd estimated in excess of 25,000.

Simone, racing out of Holland Landing, Ont., and looking for his first series win, stayed right on Ranger’s rear deck lid in his Crown Modular/United Lumber Chevy throughout a green-white-checkered finish before settling for a runner-up finish. Setting up the two-lap dash to the finish line was a red flag caused by Jason Hathaway’s contact with a retaining wall that track officials needed some extra time to repair.

It was Ranger’s fifth victory of the season in the No. 27 Walmart/Tide Ford, which establishes a new single-season series record eclipsing Scott Steckly’s four wins of a season ago. It was also Ranger’s fourth win in the last five races, dating back to his triumph at SunValley Speedway in Vernon, B.C., on July 18. Perhaps more notably, though, is his three road-course wins this season. With a win on Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in two weeks, he would sweep the four road-course events on the 2009 schedule.

“It’s been such a fantastic year, so far,” said Ranger. “My crew just keeps giving me great cars every race.”

Successfully defending his Trois-Rivieres crown was every bit as satisfying as his win a season ago considering the talent on hand for this year’s event.

“To be able to go out and beat drivers like (Alex Tagliani) and Jacques Villeneuve along with all the other great drivers we already have in the series is really special,” Ranger said. “I just want to continue to prove myself and see where it leads.”

Simone stayed right with Ranger, a road-course ace, throughout the event. At times it appeared that Simone might have had enough car to try some things as the race came to a close, but some late cautions spoiled the opportunity.

“I definitely had a plan to make a late charge, but the late cautions allowed him to cool his tires,” said Simone. “I was saving the car all along and it looked like he might have used his up a little early, but I needed a long green-flag run at the end to try and capitalize.”

DJ Kennington finished third for his seventh top-five finish of the season.

Villeneuve, who had a disappointing race in this series debut on July 11 at Autodrome St. Eustache (Que.) after contact on the first lap knocked him out of the race, finished the race in the fourth position. He was followed by Ron Beauchamp Jr. in fifth.

Kerry Micks, Jeff Lapcevich, Don Thomson Jr., Joey Hanssen and Kent Nuhn rounded out the top 10.

The race was slowed 3 times due to caution for a total of 11 laps. The race was completely restarted after there was contact between J.F. Dumoulin and Robin Buck on the first lap. The race lead changed hands three times involving two drivers.

On Saturday, Tagliani, an Indy Car Series regular this season, won his first career NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pole. However, in Sunday’s race, he retired early with engine woes.

In the championship point standings, Ranger grew his lead to 124 points over Kennington, who moved into the second-place position. Defending series champion Steckly came into the race second in points, but left in fourth after experiencing transmission problems just 12 laps into the race. He is now 154 points off Ranger’s pace. Beauchamp now occupies third place.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is on the track next on Sunday, Aug. 30 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the AUTOPRO 100 just prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series event. 

RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP
ANDREW RANGER POST-RACE VIDEO  |  ANTHONY SIMONE POST-RACE VIDEO  |  DJ KENNINGTON POST-RACE VIDEO
ANDREW RANGER POST-RACE AUDIO  |  ANTHONY SIMONE POST-RACE AUDIO  |  DJ KENNINGTON POST-RACE AUDIO