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What will happen next is key question in Pinty’s Series western swing

Storylines abound as the NASCAR Pinty’s Series makes its annual swing through Saskatoon and Edmonton this week.

Kevin Lacroix

Kevin Lacroix

Michael Tan

Alex Tagliani, Dodge
Cayden Lapcevich, Dodge
Andrew Ranger, Dodge
Kevin Lacroix

Can Kevin Lacroix pick up his first win on an oval track? Will the incident in Toronto between Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani carry over? Can Cayden Lapcevich win two-straight races at Wyant Group Raceway en route to a second consecutive championship?

These are just some of the questions waiting to be answered this week when Canada’s only NASCAR-sanctioned series holds three races in four days from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Edmonton, Alberta.

Lacroix is the hottest driver in the series right now after winning the past two races – both on road courses. He’s won three of the first five races of the season.

The St. Eustache, Québec driver won the season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in May. He has led the series since his win at Circuit ICAR in early July. While Lacroix has shown plenty of muscle on the road courses, he’ll experience a new challenge this week.

Although Lacroix won the pole at Edmonton last year, he’s yet to win on an oval track – they type of track four of the next five races will be held on for the series.

“I won the pole at Edmonton last year and I know I can be fast on an oval,” said Lacroix after his Toronto win. “I was a little too aggressive last year and I need to be a little more patient and I’ve also learned from my previous races.”

Lacroix leads Alex Labbé by 13 points (222-209) in the standings. Labbé won at Delaware Speedway when the series returned in June.

While neither driver has publicly discussed their Lap 5 incident at Toronto, it was clear Ranger was not happy with the contact by Tagliani.

Tagliani won last year at Edmonton, while Ranger earned the pole for the race at WGR last year and finished fifth.

Wyant Group Raceway was the turning point in Lapcevich’s 2016 season. His first series win came in Saskatoon last year and propelled him to the title. The NASCAR Next driver continued his winning ways at Autodrome Chaudiere in June. 

Notes:

All in the family: For the first time in the history of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series a father-daughter duo will attempt to make a race. Weyburn, Saskatoon native Stefan Klym and his daughter, Destiny, will enter their first race on Wednesday.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant to make his second start: Armani Williams, a participant in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine last fall, will make his second start this season. The Detroit, Michigan native competed at Delaware Speedway last month in a car prepared by former two-time series champion D.J. Kennington. Williams finished 11th.

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