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From NASCAR.com
JR Fitzpatrick did everything he could. LP Dumoulin did what he needed.
The result was Dumoulin was crowned the champion of the 2014 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Saturday, while Fitzpatrick walked away with the winner's trophy for the Pinty's 250 at Kawartha Speedway.
Final championship margin: Three points.
It capped a remarkable career transformation for the 35-year-old Dumoulin, who got his start in open-wheel racing and didn't make his NASCAR debut until 2009. He ran his first full season in 2012, won his first NASCAR race last year and first NASCAR oval race this season.
Dumoulin qualified 15th and finished ninth at Kawartha. It was enough for him to edge Fitzpatrick for the title after the latter won the pole award and led the most laps en route to his third victory of the season.
Fitzpatrick led three times for 171 laps, including the final 78. A late caution gave Steckly one more shot with seven to go, but Fitzpatrick pulled away to win by .229 seconds.
It was all for naught, though, as a 100-lap green flag run in the middle of the race left just 10 cars on the lead lap and all but ensured Dumoulin the title.
He entered the race with a 16-point lead and needed to only finish 11th or better to claim the championship.
Defending race and series champion Steckly finished second at Kawartha, while Jason Hathaway, Mark Dilley and Kennington rounded out the top five.
JR Fitzpatrick did everything he could. LP Dumoulin did what he needed.
The result was Dumoulin was crowned the champion of the 2014 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Saturday, while Fitzpatrick walked away with the winner's trophy for the Pinty's 250 at Kawartha Speedway.
Final championship margin: Three points.
It capped a remarkable career transformation for the 35-year-old Dumoulin, who got his start in open-wheel racing and didn't make his NASCAR debut until 2009. He ran his first full season in 2012, won his first NASCAR race last year and first NASCAR oval race this season.
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| Photo: Matthew Manor/NASCAR |
Dumoulin qualified 15th and finished ninth at Kawartha. It was enough for him to edge Fitzpatrick for the title after the latter won the pole award and led the most laps en route to his third victory of the season.
Fitzpatrick led three times for 171 laps, including the final 78. A late caution gave Steckly one more shot with seven to go, but Fitzpatrick pulled away to win by .229 seconds.
It was all for naught, though, as a 100-lap green flag run in the middle of the race left just 10 cars on the lead lap and all but ensured Dumoulin the title.
He entered the race with a 16-point lead and needed to only finish 11th or better to claim the championship.
Defending race and series champion Steckly finished second at Kawartha, while Jason Hathaway, Mark Dilley and Kennington rounded out the top five.