THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ont. won an incident-filled NASCAR Canadian Tire race ahead of series leader Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Que., on Sunday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ranger was running third during a restart on the 25th and final lap when he nudged second-place D.J. Keninngton at the start of a chicane, sending the St. Thomas, Ont., driver across the infield grass and back onto the track, where he forced Don Thomson of Hamilton to knock Scott Steckly of Milverton, Ont., whose car flipped over on the track. Thomson went into the wall.
Race officials ruled that Ranger would take second place, with Kerry Micks of Mount Albert, Ont., third and Kennington fourth. Ranger said Kennington should have retained the position he was in before the caution flag went up.
"I don’t think it’s fair that they put D.J. in fourth, " Ranger said, even though he benefited from the stewards’ call.
Pole sitter Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., retired with his engine smoking after 11 laps. Former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Patrice Brisebois was 12th.
In the Formula Tour 1600 race, Matt White of Toronto took the 16-lap event ahead of Michel Bonnet of St-Bruno, Que., with his son Olivier Bonnet third. Series leader Didier Schraenen of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., was fifth.