Rebounds From Early Trouble For Third Straight Trois-Rivieres Win

TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec, Canada — Defending NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 champion Andrew Ranger showed why you never give up in a road course race.

After being involved in an incident with JR Fitzpatrick racing for the lead, which sent Ranger into a barrier around Turn 6 and losing several positions, the Roxton Pond, Quebec native rebounded to pick up his third consecutive win at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres winning the GP3R 100 Sunday.

After falling back several positions after his contact with Fitzpatrick, Ranger was able to move up to third by Lap 19 and back into the lead on a Lap 29 restart when Ranger made it three wide passing Fitzpatrick and Kerry Micks to the inside for the lead.

Ranger enjoyed a comfortable lead until Maryeve Dufault spun on Lap 38 to set up a green-white-checkered finish.

Ranger was able to stay out front and keep Micks behind him for his second NCATS victory of the year and fourth road course win of 2010.

Fitzpatrick followed in third with DJ Kennington fourth and Jeff Lapcevich fifth.

Both Ranger and Fitzpatrick led a race-high 16 laps with both drivers earning 10 bonus points for leading the most laps which caused a change atop the championship point standings. Kennington, who brought a 14-point lead into the event, now trails Fitzpatrick by a single point. Fitzpatrick and Kennington have volleyed the points lead back and forth all season.

Scott Steckly was sixth and J.F. Dumoulin seventh while Jason Hathaway was eighth. Peter Klutt and Mark Dilley rounded out the top 10.

Ranger has also recorded wins this season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series with triumphs at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., and his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory in Toronto on July 17.

With this win in Trois-Rivieres, Ranger has 10 wins and 17 podium finishes in his 18 road-course starts in NASCAR including his third-place effort last season in Montreal’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event.

The race was slowed due to caution just three times for eight laps and the race lead changed hands five times among three drivers.

Television coverage of the GP3R 100 will air on TSN and TSN HD on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. ET

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 returns to oval-track racing in its next outing on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ont., for the Dickies 200.

© RIF | NCATS – Shon Sbarra