The Tufoil 250 presented at the Autodrome St-Eustache, Quebec this coming Saturday night will mark the beginning of the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season. This will be the third running of the series under the management from NASCAR.
Each of the first two champions – Andrew Ranger (2007) and Scott Steckly (2008) will be back on the starting grid and you can expect some stiff competition from both of them in the coming weeks but there is always the possibility to see a wildcard entrant come into the hunt for the title.
DJ Kennington could be the one to beat this year as he holds the record for the driver having earned most top-five and top-10 finishes. Neither of those record-setting marks, however, has earned him that elusive championship. Kennington finished third to Steckly last season and was runner-up to Ranger in 2007.
The ability to handle road-course racing is significant in the NCTS as four races require both right and left-handed turns. Championship contenders cannot afford a poor performance on any of the four demanding road courses.
Canadian teams now have the opportunity to utilize NASCAR new cost-effective engine that should balance the advantage some of the more established teams which have devoted loads of time and resources to their own engine programs. Can the NASCAR-developed spec engine make the same difference as it has in the U.S.?
National Tufoil 250 preliminary entry list
1- 02 Kerry Micks Beyond Digital Imaging Ford
2- 3 Jason Hathaway Snap-on Tools/Super 8 Dodge
3- 4 Don Thomson Jr Home Hardware Chevrolet
4- 5 André Coursol Carquest Canada Chevrolet
5- 7 Miguel Duhamel Jacombs Racing Ford
6- 9 Mark Dilley Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge
7- 12 John Gaunt Gaunt Racing Dodge
8- 17 DJ Kennington Castrol/Mahindra Tractor Dodge
9- 18 Kent Nuhn Nuhn Racing Chevrolet
10- 19 Brad Graham Logel's Auto Parts Dodge
11- 21 Jason White A&W/Zimmer-Wheaton GMC
12- 22 Scott Steckly Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge
13- 23 Jeff Lapcevich Tim Hortons Chevrolet
14- 27 Andrew Ranger Wal-Mart/Tide Ford
15- 39 Dave Whitlock Dickies/NMT Dodge
16- 40 Joey Hanssen Prime Champ Dodge
17- 55 Dexter Stacey WJS Motorsports Pontiac
18- 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge
19- 84 JR Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet
20- 95 Anthony Simone Crown Modular/United Lumber
photo:Philippe Champoux
Each of the first two champions – Andrew Ranger (2007) and Scott Steckly (2008) will be back on the starting grid and you can expect some stiff competition from both of them in the coming weeks but there is always the possibility to see a wildcard entrant come into the hunt for the title.
DJ Kennington could be the one to beat this year as he holds the record for the driver having earned most top-five and top-10 finishes. Neither of those record-setting marks, however, has earned him that elusive championship. Kennington finished third to Steckly last season and was runner-up to Ranger in 2007.
The ability to handle road-course racing is significant in the NCTS as four races require both right and left-handed turns. Championship contenders cannot afford a poor performance on any of the four demanding road courses.
Canadian teams now have the opportunity to utilize NASCAR new cost-effective engine that should balance the advantage some of the more established teams which have devoted loads of time and resources to their own engine programs. Can the NASCAR-developed spec engine make the same difference as it has in the U.S.?
National Tufoil 250 preliminary entry list
1- 02 Kerry Micks Beyond Digital Imaging Ford
2- 3 Jason Hathaway Snap-on Tools/Super 8 Dodge
3- 4 Don Thomson Jr Home Hardware Chevrolet
4- 5 André Coursol Carquest Canada Chevrolet
5- 7 Miguel Duhamel Jacombs Racing Ford
6- 9 Mark Dilley Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge
7- 12 John Gaunt Gaunt Racing Dodge
8- 17 DJ Kennington Castrol/Mahindra Tractor Dodge
9- 18 Kent Nuhn Nuhn Racing Chevrolet
10- 19 Brad Graham Logel's Auto Parts Dodge
11- 21 Jason White A&W/Zimmer-Wheaton GMC
12- 22 Scott Steckly Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge
13- 23 Jeff Lapcevich Tim Hortons Chevrolet
14- 27 Andrew Ranger Wal-Mart/Tide Ford
15- 39 Dave Whitlock Dickies/NMT Dodge
16- 40 Joey Hanssen Prime Champ Dodge
17- 55 Dexter Stacey WJS Motorsports Pontiac
18- 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge
19- 84 JR Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet
20- 95 Anthony Simone Crown Modular/United Lumber
photo:Philippe Champoux