In between the start and finish, the lead exchanged hands and steering wheels a number of times at the Sutherland Automotive Speedway oval track on a hot and muggy night.
Marc-Antoine Camirand, who started in the pole position, finished with the checkered flag and podium glory Saturday night in the Leland Industries 250 NASCAR Canada Series race in Saskatoon.
In between the start and finish, the lead exchanged hands and steering wheels a number of times at the Sutherland Automotive Speedway oval track on a hot and muggy night.
“It was a big win for the team,” said Camirand, a native of St. Leonard d’Aston, Quebec, adding that his car started the race pretty well and then fell back a bit, only to make some adjustments that proved to be the difference in the final stretch on a scorcher of a night.
“It was one of the hottest days out there …. It was a grind.”
Andrew Ranger took over the lead on the 101st lap and then Kevin Lacroix raced ahead in front after 181 laps and held the lead until the 232nd lap when Camirand made his move and never relinquished.
Camirand — who also won the previous week’s race at the Ohsweken Speedway and the 2024 season opener at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park — continues to lead the NASCAR Canada championship points standings ahead of Ranger and Lacroix.
On Saturday, it came down to a battle between Camirand and Lacroix, with the two cars rubbing cheeks on the short track.
“Oh, yeah, that was fun,” said Lacroix. “It was side to side, door to door. We leave myself just enough room, just to make some little contact and it’s fun for the fans but not hard enough to take each out.
“That’s what we like to do. That’s why we come to track. Even though I’m second, it’s still a good day for the team.”
Ranger, who enjoyed a short-lived lead and has won in Saskatoon in the past, settled for third but a podium-finish nonetheless.
“It’s good to finish on the podium like that,” said Ranger. “The first half, we were quick. I was a little bit loose at the end but we thought maybe we could tighten the car a little bit more. Unfortunately, it was not enough … You know, it’s a great race, a great podium and great for the points.”
Mark Dilley, who was driving in his final race of his NASCAR Canada career, started in seventh position and moved up into fourth spot before car trouble forced him out of the race
The NASCAR Canada series continues with its next race at the Edmonton International Speedway in Wetaskiwin.
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