NASCAR Home Tracks

PRACTICE: Ranger tops the charts

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. – Both NASCAR Canadian Tire Series practice sessions are complete at Mosport International Raceway for the Dickies 200 and Andrew Ranger turned in the fastest lap in each. His quickest lap, overall, timed in at 85.163 seconds for an average speed of 105.680 mph.

Ranger, out of Roxton Pond, Que., and his No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford is always a force in the road-course events. He improved his fast time from the first session by nearly a second in his third lap of the second and final practice session on the demanding 2.459-mile, 10-turn track. That time was faster than the track record of 85.375 seconds set by Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) in qualifying for last year’s race.

Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) registered the second-fastest lap at 85.429 seconds (105.351 mph). Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) was just off that pace at 85.667 seconds (105.058 mph).

Rounding out the top five was Anthony Simone (No. 95 Crown Modular/United Lumber Chevrolet), who turned in a time of 85.739 seconds (104.970 mph), and current points leader Ron Beauchamp Jr. with a time of 85.972 seconds (104.705 mph).

Practice times mattered for this event as they were used to set the two groups for the NASCAR road race-style qualifying session. The 12 slowest cars in practice will hit the track first followed by the 12 fastest. Each group will have 15 minutes on the track to set the field for Sunday's Dickies 200.

Qualifying is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon and the Dickies 200 is slated for Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.