THOMAS NEPVEU BACK IN SKUSA AT NEW CASTLE MOTORSPORTS PARK
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THOMAS NEPVEU BACK IN SKUSA AT NEW CASTLE MOTORSPORTS PARK

Oka (Quebec, Canada) – August 10th, 2021. After a pause in karting since the end of May, Thomas Nepveu returns this weekend to the SuperKarts! USA SummerNationals series (X30 Senior class) on the fast one-mile New Castle Motorsports Park located in New Castle (Indiana, USA). Thomas Nepveu is familiar with this high-speed layout which features a long straightaway of 950 ft. (290 meters), after having raced there in 2019 during a concentrated six-race programme in which he achieved good results.

 

This return to the track will also be marked by a major change for the team as Thomas Nepveu will be driving a new brand of machine made by “Kart Republic”. Thomas and his sporting manager, Coy Arbour, will be participating in the event as an independent team. Founded in Italy by the renowned Dino Chiesa in 2017, the brand has taken several drivers to the highest levels of motorsport such as Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Lance Stroll to name a few.

 

“I am expecting a very good weekend as I feel we have the equipment we need to succeed. I’ve been racing against Kart Republic karts since their inception in 2017. Everything is in place for us to reach the podiums and play for wins. I like this type of track at New Castle, fast and with some places where we can overtake. We are ready for a big weekend, especially when we add the knowledge that we have developed since the beginning of the season in USF2000,” explains Thomas Nepveu.

Sam Fellows to Race Remaining 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Events with Jim Bray Motorsports
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Sam Fellows to Race Remaining 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Events with Jim Bray Motorsports
BY PRESS RELEASE SAM FELLOWS AUGUST 10, 2021

Toronto, ON — It was announced today that team owner Mike Curb will field Sam Fellows, son of Canadian racing legend Ron, in the No. 98 Curb Records Chevrolet Camaro for the remainder of the 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series schedule, starting next week at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières. The race team will be operated by Bray Autosport.

The 27-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, has experience in Canadian touring car competitions as well as the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada.

“I am extremely grateful to Mike Curb and Curb Records for this amazing opportunity to run the remainder of this season in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series,” Fellows said. “I also need to give a big thanks to Jim Bray for his support.”

“Obviously the road racing is something that I’m familiar with, but I didn’t want to shy away from running on the ovals. It’s something I have always wanted to do and I’m very much looking forward to it … but for now, I’m really looking forward to Trois-Rivières and getting the ball rolling.”

Fellows and the team will also have sponsorship from Darkhorse Trailers by Jim Bray, B & B Decals, Strodes, AER Manufacturing, and Brock Street Brewing Company. You can follow Sam on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @samfell0ws.

One-Two Finish for Thompson as Carrera Cup North America Championship Reaches Halfway Marker at Road America
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One-Two Finish for Thompson as Carrera Cup North America Championship Reaches Halfway Marker at Road America

DATE OF RELEASE:

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 – 14:00 MTN

ONE-TWO FINISHES FOR THOMPSON AS CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP REACHES HALFWAY MARKER AT ROAD AMERICA.

The 2021 Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands reached the halfway point of its inaugural season as thirty spec Porsche race cars arrived at Road America this weekend. On the 4.0-mile Wisconsin road course, Parker Thompson had his strongest performance in the series to date. Thompson piloted the #9 JDX Racing Porsche 992 to second-place and first-place finishes in the double-header race weekend. With the performance, he closes in on the overall championship lead.

After heavy rains forced the cancellation of Qualifying on Friday, the weekend’s competition began with Race 1 on Saturday morning, and the field lined up according to championship points standings. From the inside of row 2, Thompson had a strong start, taking 2nd place through turn one of the opening lap and settling in behind championship leader Kay Van Berlo. In pursuit of Van Berlo, Thompson would open a wide margin over the rest of the field. Late in the race, he would mount a charge on the leader as the two clocked the fastest laps of the field. After completing a final lap, final corner, pass for the win against Van Berlo earlier this year at COTA, Thompson once again took race fans to the edge of their seats as he reeled Van Berlo in. He would close to within half a second of the lead but was ultimately unable to get past. Thompson brought the red and white #9 JDX Racing 992 to the checkered flag in second place.

In an action-packed Race 2, Thompson started second. On the opening lap, tight competition at the front of the field took action three-wide in places. All drivers showed tremendous skill as they navigated close quarters and tested the outer boundaries of the track. With an incredibly aggressive move past two competitors on the outside of turn 1, it was Thompson who emerged in the lead after the first lap. He would establish a safe margin to the rest of the field until multiple incidents behind him caused full-course yellows and race restarts. On those restarts, Thompson repeatedly proved that he had not only strong pace, but also the racecraft to hold off charges from the group behind him. He would take the checkered flag and become one of only two drivers to earn multiple wins in the championship to date.
Parker Thompson
“I’m so proud to be part of this team. We’re not the biggest dog in this fight, but we know that with grit and determination, we can have a massive impact on the championship. We had a tough outing last event at Watkins Glen, but everyone kept the faith, buckled down, and found a way to put the #9 on the top step this weekend. JDX Racing, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, SSi Artificial Lift, Surgere, and Porsche Canada – it has been incredible to see everyone join forces to make our campaign come together. I’m so honored to be the guy who sits in the driver’s seat. Right now, we have one goal: stand on the top of the podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next month.”
Now eight races into this inaugural Carrera Cup North America championship, eight races remain on the schedule with stops at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Virginia International Raceway, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Action resumes September 10th with a unique triple-header weekend on the IMS Grand Prix course – a course where Thompson has earned multiple wins on the Road to Indy. He enters the event with a solid hold on third-place, knowing that another performance like the one we saw here at Road America, will firmly place him in the hunt for the overall championship.

A solid start to the season for Kevin Lacroix, then a disappointment at Sunset Speedway
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A solid start to the season for Kevin Lacroix, then a disappointment at Sunset Speedway


Innisfil (ON), August 2, 2021 – Kevin Lacroix competed in the first two events of the NASCAR Pinty’s season last Sunday at the 1/3-mile Sunset Speedway. The Bumper to Bumper team started strong with a 4th place finish in the Frontline Workers 125.

However, Lacroix suffered a mechanical issue around lap 30 of the night’s second event, the General Tire 125, which ended his race prematurely. The driver of the #74 Bumper to Bumper<https://www.bumpertobumper.ca/en/>  / Lacroix Tuning<https://www.lacroixtuning.com/home> car.
car had set the fastest time in practice earlier on Sunday and then the 5th place in the qualifying session.
“It was going very well in practice, but I missed my shot in qualifying, which explains my 5th place,” said Kevin Lacroix.

Frontline Workers 125 Race Recap

It was an action-packed 125-lap race at all levels. Kevin Lacroix fought hard with the drivers around him in the first half of the race, staying between 7th and 5th position. These battles slowed down his ascent as he was caught in traffic as the train of cars was very tight. However, after a mid-race restart, Lacroix worked his way to the top of the pack, narrowly avoiding a car that went off the track.

Lacroix battled with Andrew Ranger, Treyton Lapcevich and Peter Shepherd III, all of whom were hoping for the lead. He finished the race in 4th place as he battled with Alex Tagliani.

“The race went well, except that I was stuck in traffic, so it was hard to pass other drivers,” explained Lacroix. “When I was passing, there was often a caution, so I would lose the place I had gained. However, when I finally got to the front of the pack, everything was fine, and the speed was there,” he concluded.

General Tire 125 Race Recap

Kevin Lacroix started from the 7th place for the second and last race of the night. Once again, the St-Eustache native was caught in traffic but managed to pull away and move up the field.

The driver explains that “I was once again caught in traffic, but everything was going well. It took a few laps to pass Alex Tagliani; we were side by side for a while. However, when I was able to finalize my pass, I was able to go faster, and I was moving up on the top four. However, my race ended on lap 30 because of a mechanical failure. It was not our day!

Kevin Lacroix remains confident for the next race, which will be on August 15, in the streets of Trois-Rivières; “I have always been very comfortable at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, so I hope to finish on the podium, and even win the race. It will be nice to see the fans in the stands, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing all the guests wearing red Bumper to Bumper shirts to cheer on our team!

The Frontline Workers 125 will be broadcast on TSN on Sunday, August 8 at 1 pm, and on RDS2 on Friday, August 13 at 9:30 pm. The General Tire 125 will air on August 15 at 11 am on TSN and on Monday, August 23 at 7 pm on RDS 2.

Kevin Lacroix aims for the title and nothing less in NASCAR Pinty’s series.
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Kevin Lacroix aims for the title and nothing less in NASCAR Pinty’s series.

 

Photo by : Ray MacAloney/cdn-r.com

St-Eustache (QC), July 29, 2021 – Kevin Lacroix and the Bumper to Bumper crew are headed to Sunset Speedway, Ontario, for the first NASCAR Pinty’s event of the season this weekend!

Kevin Lacroix is looking forward to the first two events of the season on Sunday, August 1st, at Sunset Speedway, an oval located in Innisfil, just outside of Toronto.

Lacroix is familiar with the 1/3 mile track as he competed there for two races last year during the shortened NASCAR Pinty’s season. He tested at Sunset Speedway earlier this summer in preparation for the event, which will feature two races; the Frontline Workers 125 and the General Tire 125.

“The season started later than expected due to health measures in some provinces, which gave us more time to prepare,” said Kevin Lacroix, who will be driving the The #74 Bumper to Bumper  / Lacroix Tuning car.

 

“It also gave me time to practice on the simulator, I see it as a very good practice, and I’ve been doing a lot of that since the pandemic started.”

Kevin Lacroix is approaching this season wisely; he will focus on consistency rather than wins to get his first title in the Canadian NASCAR series. “The important thing this season will be to have a consistent pace to make sure we get points. Last year I was very close to the title, but a mistake in the first race decided my fate in the championship.”

Indeed, the level of drivers in this series is extremely strong, which will provide an additional challenge this season. However, Lacroix is confident in his team and his cars; “we made some good changes to the car we use on the road courses which gave us some speed, so I have all the elements to fight at the front of the field.”

Once again, Bumper to Bumper will be Kevin Lacroix’s main partner this year, in addition to Lacroix Tuning; “this season especially, I want to thank Bumper to Bumper for supporting me even though the economic situation is less than ideal. I am also thrilled to announce that we will have a new sponsor for the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Stay tuned as we will be making the announcement very soon!”

Sunday’s first event, the Frontline Workers 125, will be presented at 4:50 pm, and the General Tire 125 will be at 6:30 pm. Live timing and highlights can be found at nascar.ca/race-center/ and on the series’ social media channels. Both races will be broadcast on RDS and TSN.