Category: Miscellaneous News

AVERY TOWNS JOINS EXCLUSIVE AUTOSPORT FOR FRESHMAN USF2000 SEASON
Posted by admin on in Miscellaneous News

AVERY TOWNS JOINS EXCLUSIVE AUTOSPORT FOR FRESHMAN USF2000 SEASON

Texas native graduates from SCCA Formula X to USF Pro Championships ladder

BROWNSBURG, IN (December 15, 2022) – Exclusive Autosport is thrilled to announce the signing of 19-year-old Avery Towns as their second driver for the 2023 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires season. The Texas native will pilot the blue, black, and silver #93 Tatuus USF-22. Unlike the usual path taken by most young racers, Towns did not compete in karting as a youngster but instead found motorsports in 2021 through the Sports Car Club of America. During his first two years of open-wheel competition, Towns has enjoyed success in the Formula X classification, earning numerous race victories and the U.S. Majors points championships in both of those years. Avery will aim to leverage the experience of the Exclusive Autosport crew, engineers, and teammates to help further develop his racecraft.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity to compete in the USF2000 series this upcoming season­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­,” Towns enthused. “I’d like to give a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone involved, especially my parents who have supported me throughout the process. I’m super excited to be working with Exclusive Autosport for 2023 and I cannot wait for the season opener at St. Pete!”

“We are excited to welcome Avery to the program,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “This will be his first year in professional open-wheel racing and we are really looking forward to helping him progress and develop in the sport.”

In preparation for the 2023 season, Towns will take part in Exclusive Autosport’s extensive off-season testing program for their USF Juniors, USF2000, and USF Pro 2000 teams leading into the upcoming USF Pro Championships season. Drivers with interest in joining or testing with the EA squad are asked to contact the team directly by emailing info@exclusiveauotosport.com.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to continue its partnership with a great company – Corpay Cross-Border Solutions (https://cross-border.corpay.com/exclusive-autosport/) – who specialize in helping companies of all sizes power their international payments, execute plans to manage their currency risk and support their growth around the world.

 

Parker Thompson Wins 2022 Carrera Cup North America Pro Championship
Posted by admin on in Miscellaneous News

Parker Thompson Wins 2022 Carrera Cup North America Pro Championship

Congratulations to Parker Thompson on clinching the Carrera Cup North America Pro Championship.

In the final rounds of the 2022 season of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands, Parker Thompson overcame an eleven-point deficit to earn the Pro-class championship title. Driving the white, red, and yellow No. 9 machine of JDX Racing, Thompson earned a win and a third-place finish in two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The result delivers him more points than all challengers and the series’ top accolade.

Thompson’s performance in the season finale was indicative of his season’s campaign. With five wins through sixteen rounds, Thompson was one of five Pro-class drivers to climb to the top of the podium. Where Thompson stood apart was consistency. Finishing in the top-three twelve times and the top-five fourteen times, Thompson was a constant presence at the front of the field. Thompson had more success avoiding trouble than other drivers in a sometimes tumultuous field of Porsche race cars.

The same held true this week at Road Atlanta. While other top performers fell victim to racing incidents, Thompson quietly drove to a victory and a third-place finish. The twenty-four-year-old Canadian easily buried an eleven-point deficit in championship points, cinching the title with a sixteen-point cushion over his nearest competitor.

 

Parker Thompson
“I’m so proud of this JDX Racing team! All season long we battled, and usually from behind. We worked, we studied, and we never quit. That takes great leadership. Jeremy and JoAnne Dale along with Harrison Brix aren’t just the letters in JDX, they are the reason I have a career in Motorsports and a Championship today. Our partnership group with Kevin King at Byers Porsche, Bill, Beth, and Michael Wappler at Surgere, everyone at Shell Tap-Up, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and SSi Artificial Lift, plus all of our people with boots on the ground for race days have shown a resounding commitment to our campaign. There is no doubt in my mind that we have earned this title on merit. I will never be able to thank Luke, Larry, Darryl, Dan, and the rest of the crew at JDX enough for their time away from families invested on the No. 9’s success.

I’m still a young guy, but from the number of times I’ve finished second in championships, I sometimes feel like I’ve been around a long time. I’m so grateful to take this title. Porsche Motorsport North America and IMSA put on an outstanding series. The 992 Cup has been a pleasure to learn and drive, and the level of competition between drivers has been like no other series I’ve experienced. No doubt some of my fellow drivers might also be worthy champions, but I’ll take the title and offer full recognition to one team that clearly outdid the rest – even if we only had one car!”

Crucial Victory for Camirand, Ranger Eighth at CTMP
Posted by admin on in Miscellaneous News

Crucial Victory for Camirand, Ranger Eighth at CTMP

Photo By: ©Ray MacAloney / cdn-r.com

Bowmanville, ON, September 5th, 2022 – Marc-Antoine Camirand clinched a brilliant victory to increase his point lead, as the NASCAR Pinty’s series was at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend. His Paillé Course//Racing teammate Andrew Ranger scored an eight-place finish after leading some laps in the race.

 Marc-Antoine Camirand came to CTMP as the NASCAR Pinty’s championship points leader and aimed at securing as many points as possible with two races to go in the season. He showed great speed throughout the weekend. Camirand scored the pole position after being second in practice earlier Saturday, and for the third race in a row, he started first on the starting grid.

He kept the first place for six laps, before he was passed by Kevin Lacroix but kept putting pressure on the leader. Then, when the first caution occurred, he stopped for fuel first, and stopped a second time to change the left tires but didn’t take fresh right-side tires. The GM Paillé/Chevrolet Camaro n°96 Camaro was tenth at the restart, in front of his championship opponents who took four tires.

This strategy turned out good for Camirand. He managed to climb back the field in no time, and when he took back the lead from his Paillé Course//Racing teammate Ranger, he never looked back. He held Kevin Lacroix who was tailing him for the lead, and won his third race of the season, his first this year on a road course.

“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better weekend. We were looking to secure our championship place, but we ended up increasing that lead with that win. I couldn’t thank my Camirand Performance crew and the whole GM Paillé family enough for that victory,” said Camirand after the race. He now holds a 33-point lead over Kevin Lacroix with one race to go.

His Paillé Course//Racing teammate Andrew Ranger experienced a more difficult weekend on the fast road course located near Bowmanville, ON. Ranger qualified in fifth place on Saturday, after having issues finding some speed on his GM Paillé/Chevrolet Canada n°27 Camaro during practice. He was hoping for a strong top-five finish in the 51-lap race.

After a timely pit stop for fuel just before the first caution, he took the lead of the race and ran good lap times in front of the field. The team chose to pit later in the race to change tires.

“This strategy didn’t turn out like we were hoping to. Even with newer tires, I had some trouble climbing back the field,” explained Ranger. He scored an eight-place finish at the end of the WeatherTech 200.

Paillé Course//Racing, Marc-Antoine Camirand and Andrew Ranger will be back on track for the last race of the NASCAR Pinty’s series 2022 season, on September 25, at Delaware Speedway, near London, ON.

Second Place for Kevin Lacroix at CTMP!
Posted by admin on in Miscellaneous News

Second Place for Kevin Lacroix at CTMP!

Photo by : ©Ray MacAloney / cdn-r.com

Bowmanville (ON), September 4, 2022 – Kevin Lacroix almost claimed another win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this Sunday, as NASCAR Pinty’s concluded their last road course event of the season.

The driver of the #74 Lacroix Tuning | NAPA Auto Parts | Valvoline. car finished second after this fiery race. “With the championship race so close, I needed this win,” said Kevin Lacroix after the race.

He was well on his way to climbing on the top step of the podium after setting the fastest time in Saturday morning’s practice session and 3rd in qualifying.

At the start of the WeatherTech 200, Lacroix took the lead after just a few laps. Leading the field, Lacroix built a comfortable lead that melted during the first caution. Taking advantage of the caution flag, half of the field came down pit road, first for fuel, then a second time for the left side tires, and a third time for the right side tires.

The then race leader Andrew Ranger opted for a different strategy, staying on track. Starting 9th, Lacroix worked his way up to 3rd, where he was stuck behind Andrew Ranger and Marc-Antoine Camirand for a while before claiming second place.

The race had two more cautions. The last one spiced up the battle for the win with a few laps to go. Lacroix started in the second position and had to overtake Camirand while watching out for Gary Klutt behind. Camirand took advantage of the fight between Lacroix and Klutt to pull a gap. However, with two laps remaining, Lacroix was able to catch up with his main competitor. The 51-lap race ended with Lacroix in second place.

“Marc-Antoine (Camirand) did not make any mistakes during the race,” explained the driver of the #74 NAPA Auto Parts | Valvoline | Lacroix Tuning car. “It was hard to fight against him, but we had a great car, especially at the end. I wish the race would have lasted longer, but he deserved the win, and we are happy with 2nd place!”

Kevin Lacroix must win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this Sunday
Posted by admin on in Miscellaneous News

Kevin Lacroix must win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this Sunday

Saint-Eustache (QC), September 1, 2022 – Kevin Lacroix has no choice but to win the last two events of the season to ensure he has a chance at winning the NASCAR Pinty’s Championship.

This weekend the Canadian NASCAR Series heads to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the final road course event of the season. The driver of the #74 Lacroix Tuning | NAPA Auto Parts | Valvoline  car currently sits in 4th place in the driver’s championship, 28 points off the first position. This is one of the most intense championship finishes that has been seen in years.

“I have no choice but to go for the win at Mosport,” said Kevin Lacroix. “It’s a good thing that this is a track that I know by heart and that I always do well on,” said Kevin Lacroix. Indeed, Lacroix Motorsport claimed the win during the first event of the season, in a fiery finish back in May.

Since his first event in 2016, Lacroix has picked up 6 wins at the Bowmanville track, so he will be looking to add one more to his tally. “It always plays rough at Mosport because most of the drivers in the field know the track as well as I do and could all win the race.”

“Some drivers have nothing left to lose and are aiming for the win at all costs; others have to be more careful and strategic about the championship. I’m between those two; I think I’ll only be able to decide during the race if I take risks to go for the win or if I should be conservative.”

The green flag for the WeatherTech 200 will drop at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, September 4. Fans will be invited to meet the NASCAR Pinty’s drivers in the paddock at the series truck at 11 a.m.