BOWMANVILLE, Ont- A total of seven Canadians competed in the Chevy Silverado 250 on Sunday. A packed house at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park saw GMS Racing’s Brett Moffitt claim the win with five seconds over second place. However, for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series drivers and teams there is still plenty to celebrate.
Here is a brief overview of where some of the top Canucks finished at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Alex Tagliani
After a controversial end to the Total Quartz 200, Alex Tagliani was determined and fired-up when the green flag flew for the Chevy Silverado 250. Was he hungry to win, yes, but was he still upset after earlier, no. Tagliani, driving the winningest truck of the season, the No.51 CanTorque Toyota started P4.
After driving a smart and clean race, Tagliani came home in second behind Moffitt. Tagliani was waiting for a late race caution that never came, which is unlike the typical CTMP fashion. The day was still a huge win for Tagliani, making a statement to any other big three team who may need a road course driver.
Alex @tagliani had a great day in the @NASCAR_Trucks finishing?#NASCARPintys | #Silverado250 pic.twitter.com/2oWRV6R4CK
– NASCAR Pinty’s Series (@NASCARPintys) August 25, 2019
"The 51 team did a super job in the race to fix the truck as we were going," said Tagliani. "It got better and we got it up to P2, but we were still missing a little bit to catch the No.24 [Moffitt]."
"It was a little tight and there was some chattering in the front," Tagliani added. "Other than that it was a lot of fun to race and being here in Canada, finishing runner up isn’t too shabby."
Raphael Lessard
Rookie Raphael Lessard made his road course debut in the No.54 FRL Express Toyota for DGR Crosley. The 18-year old got a crash course in road course racing in the Truck Series when he spun out while running in the top-ten.
In preparation for CTMP, Lessard ran a Pinty’s car at GP3R earlier in the month . He remained humble through the entire learning process. At the end of the day, the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec driver managed to come home with another top-ten finish, rebounding for 10th spot come the checkered flag on Sunday.
What a race! We gained a lot of experience this weekend on road course. Mission accomplished??? P19 after the first stage, P13 after the second stage and we finished the race with a top-10 ?? Congratulations to the entire #54 #FRLExpress @DGR_Crosley pic.twitter.com/InKVt5T1WQ
– Raphaël Lessard (@raphael_lessard) August 25, 2019
"I think it went really, I gained a lot of experience and learned a lot," said Lessard. "I spun out at the beginning trying to work out the aero. I just went inside somebody in turn four, it took the air off me and I spun out."
"I had the whole race to come back," Lessard added. "We pitted and my DGR team and gave me a great top ten truck."
Gary Klutt
While Gary Klutt suffered some misfortune in the TOTAL Quartz 200, he was partnered up with a Championship contending team for the NASCAR Trucks race. Suiting up as teammate to Ross Chastain the Watermelon man himself, Klutt brought his No. 44 Colour Compass Corporation Chevy home in the 12thposition.
This was Klutt’s third time racing the Chevy Silverado 250, having run for both Kyle Busch Motorsports and Premium in the past.
"Honestly we unloaded pretty bad," said Klutt. "But we just kept working at it, no one gave up and we kept getting faster and faster. I can’t thank all my sponsors enough. It was a pretty last minute deal, and such a team effort."
Best of the rest
Subbing for the suspended Tyler Dippel, D.J Kennington finished 15thdespite getting dumped on the last lap by Austin Wayne Self.
Jason White finished 20thin his third Truck Series start and his first time racing since his 100thcareer Pinty’s start in July at Wyant Group Raceway.
