BOWMANVILLE, ON – Reigning Series champion Andrew Ranger and J.R. Fitzpatrick will renew their rivalry in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Vortex Brake Pads 200 at Mosport International Raceway on June 13. In the three Canadian Tire races ran on Mosport's road circuit, Ranger has taken two and Fitzpatrick one.
Ranger, who won both Canadian Tire Series races at Mosport a year ago on the road course and the oval, will be running a limited Series season schedule while he focuses on the NASCAR K&N Series stateside. In 2009, the Roxton Pond, QC native won a total of six races with eight top-five finishes and never finishing lower than tenth in any of the 13 races.
"Last year was amazing," Ranger said. "It was a perfect season. We won both times at Mosport and the car performed great there. I am really excited to come back and compete at a place where I feel comfortable."
The 23-year-old knows that with the speed of the track and the talent-level of his fellow drivers, a repeat of last year's performance won't come easy.
"The competition is always really good there because it's such a fast track," explained Ranger. "With guys like Scott Steckly and J.R. Fitzpatrick who run really well at Mosport, it will be really hard. Fitzpatrick is fast on both the oval and the road course. He's got a good car and we always have a battle. It's great for the fans to watch."
The intense competition between the two young drivers at Mosport began in 2007 when Ranger out-dueled Fitzpatrick for the win. Fitzpatrick won the race in 2008 and Ranger took the checker flag last year.
Fitzpatrick, who is coming off a second place finish in the Canadian Tire Series season opener last weekend at Delaware Speedway was also impressive in 2009. In only four races, the 22-year-old finished in the top-five in three of them. He was victorious at Montreal.
This season, he will be running a full Canadian Tire Series schedule, while also driving some races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
"Mosport is my favourite track and I always enjoy being there," proclaimed Fitzpatrick. "I have a new road course car and I am looking forward to seeing how it does against other drivers. We tested it a couple weeks back and the car was an absolute rocket. Going to my favourite track with a fast car; you can't ask for much more than that."
Fitzpatrick believes that the competition at the Vortex Brake Pads 200 will be high, since several Series drivers are now as comfortable on road courses as they are on ovals. He says that there are as many as 10 drivers that will prove difficult to beat, including 2008 Series champion Scott Steckly, Kerry Micks, Ron Beauchamp Jr., last weeks winner D.J.
Kennington and last but not least, Ranger.
"Ever since 2007, Andrew and I have been racing each other hard and clean," said the Cambridge native. "We always put on a good show and a lot of people like to watch the rivalry that we have. It makes for great racing and that's why I am glad to hear that Ranger is coming to Mosport. It's going to be a great race."
Racing starts Friday (June 11) with a full-day of testing for all series' but the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Saturday (June 12) will have both practice and qualifying in the morning, followed by races for the Castrol Touring cars, F2000 Championship and OFFC-F1600. Sunday (June 13) morning opens with more qualifying and then races in F2000, NASCAR, Castrol Touring and OFFC-F1600 to close out the weekend.
For more information and to purchase tickets call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), visit online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com.
From Ryan Chalmers, Mosport // ryan@mosport.com
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