NASCAR Pinty’s News & Notes: Autodrome Chaudière June 23, 2016 NASCAR The NASCAR Pinty’s Series will return to Autodrome Chaudière after weather forced track officials to postpone the CRS Express 300 at the quarter mile track in quarter-mileion, Quebec, two weeks ago. This make-up event couldn’t come at a better time for NASCAR Pinty’s Series championship contender Jason Hathaway. Hathaway is coming off the most recent race for the series at Sunset Speedway with a disappointing 17th-place finish getting involved in an accident that forced him to the pits for extensive repairs. The St. Thomas, Ontario, native returns to a track he’s won at in both previous visits by the touring series. A victory this Saturday would help get Hathaway back in contention for the championship and also tie him with Andrew Ranger for the most consecutive wins at one track in series history. Ranger accomplished the feat at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres (2008-10) and Circuit ICAR (2012-14). Hathaway dominated in the inaugural race at Chaudière in 2014, leading 177 laps. Last year he led the final 30 laps and held off pole-sitter Alex Labbe at his home track to score the victory. Ranger remains the points leader after the first two races of the season as he and Cayden Lapcevich each have 83 points with Ranger on top after winning the season-opener at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. RACE: CRS Express 300 PLACE: Autodrome Chaudière, Vallee-Jonction, Que. DATE: Friday, June 24 TIME: 8 p.m. ET TELECAST: TSN – July 2 at 12:30 p.m. ET; RDS – July 15 at TBD TRACK LAYOUT: .25-mile asphalt oval 2015 POLESITTER: Alex Labbe 2015 RACE WINNER: Jason Hathaway EVENT SCHEDULE: Practice 12:30-1 p.m., Final Practice 1:20-1:50 p.m., Qualifying 4:15 p.m., Driver Autograph Session 6:45 p.m. TRACK CONTACT: André Poulin, 418-806-5201, andre.poulin@seriesportsman.ca TRACK TWITTER: @AutChaudiere EVENT TWITTER HASHTAG: #CRSExpress300 Fast Facts: The Race: The CRS Express 300 will be the third of 12 events on the NASCAR Pinty’s schedule, and the first of four trips to the province of Quebec. The Procedure: The maximum starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 21 cars will have secured starting positions through two-lap time trials while the remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race is scheduled for 300 laps (75 miles) and will have a five-minute midway break at or near the conclusion of Lap 150. This is an impound race with two change tires allowed. The Track: Autodrome Chaudière held its inaugural Pinty’s Series event in 2014. The quarter-mile, high-banked oval opened in 1992 with a dirt racing surface and was paved for the first time in 2005. Chaudière 300 Notes: Homecoming for Labbe: Alex Labbe won the pole for this event last season and led 109 laps. He’s from Victoriaville, Quebec, making Autodrome Chaudière his home track. Ontario Drivers Perform Well at Quebec Ovals: There have been nine oval races in the province of Quebec in Canadian Tire Series history, and eight of the nine have been won by an Ontario driver. Hathaway has won both previous races at Autodrome Chaudière. There have been seven events at Autodrome St-Eustache with Ontario natives Steckly (4), Kennington and Dave Whitlock picking up the first six wins at the track. Last season Quebec native Andrew Ranger broke through and ending the streak at St-Eustache. Tagliani Looks For Another Win: Alex Tagliani, fresh off his win at Sunset Speedway will go after his fourth series win and second in as many weeks. All four of Tagliani’s wins have come on ovals. The Lachenaie, Quebec native finished fifth in this race last year. Theetge Set to Drive For Steckly: Donald Theetge will make his third career start in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series this Saturday at Autodrome Chaudière. Theetge also joined his brother Benoit and competed in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge at Daytona International Speedway in 2010 finishing third. He’ll drive a car owned by four-time NPS champion Scott Steckly. Steckly led a race-high 154 laps last year before being sidelines with mechanical issues.
