Wetaskiwin, AB, July 29, 2018 – Marc-Antoine Camirand ensured to keep an enviable position in the drivers’ championship, while he scored a sixth-place finish at the Edmonton International Raceway, for the last event of the NASCAR Pinty’s Western swing, on Saturday night. Camirand struggled with a difficult car, but still managed to rack up precious championship points.
After great performances at Saskatoon’s double-header, on Wednesday, Camirand was hoping for another podium finish in the 300-lap race in Wetaskiwin, AB. “Last time I raced in Edmonton, I was very fast. I was confident that I could achieve another great result that would give me a push in the standings. Unfortunately, I had to deal with a capricious car all day,” explained Camirand, who was at the wheel of the GM Paillé n°22 Chevrolet Camaro.
The driver from Saint-Léonard-d’Aston, QC, experienced severe oversteering on its car during practice and qualifying and couldn’t find the right adjustment for the 300-lap final. “My GM Paillé n°22 car was very loose all day. During the first half of the race, there were no yellow flag, and this long stretch under green didn’t help me. I was caught by the leader and went a lap down. At that point, it was nearly impossible to come back and chase the leaders,” explained Camirand.
Yet, he made the best of the situation and captured a sixth-place finish, good enough to keep the third rank in the drivers’ standings. “I did what I had to do under these circumstances. We’re halfway in the season, and the race for the championship is very, very tight. There is no place for any mistake, and I managed to score enough points despite a difficult race,” Camirand commented.
The Luxxur 300 will air on TSN on Saturday August 11th at 1:30 p.m. ET and on RDS2 on Tuesday August 28th at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR Pinty’s series heads to the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, where Marc-Antoine Camirand holds the record for most victories (14) and podium finishes (22). The driver is looking forward to getting back on the famous street course at the wheel of its GM Paillé n°22 Chevrolet Camaro, on August 11-12.
Images attached for editorial use. Photo credit: Matthew Manor