Andrew Ranger wins NASCAR NCTS at Honda Indy Toronto 2011

Canadian driver Andrew Ranger #27 (centre, above), from La Belle Province of Quebec, won the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series NCTS Streets of Toronto 100 during the Honda Indy Toronto 2011 in a race filled with crashes and the resulting yellow flagged cautions.

Like the IndyCar drivers pointed out - the Streets of Toronto course is a matter of surviving the carnage that litter the track. Scott Steckly #22 (right) finished second and Robin Buck #66 (left) rounded out the top three.

The next race is the Motoplex 300 in British Columbia.

DJ Kennington takes Mosport NCTS Vortex 200

The course was hard on both drivers and their stock cars as there was quite a few yellows. DJ Kennington, pictured above with the cup and checkered flag, only led JR Fitzpatrick by just over half a second coming into the checkered flag (crossing the finish line, below). In third place in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Vortex 200 race held Saturday, June 26, 2011 was Robin Buck.

Twenty six drivers took part in the Vortex brake pads sponsored race at Mosport International Raceway. Yesterdays scheduled qualifying session was cancelled due to weather and the race position was determined by series point scores. Scott Steckly (finished fifth) started in the pole position. The race was preceded by a driver autograph session where you could get up close with all the drivers - including Isabelle Tremblay from Quebec, below.

I wandered the street track at Mosport and have to admit it provides some outstanding views. The street course lap is 2.5 miles and the race had 51 laps and had 10 corners and I usually hang at number 5 known as Moss Corner. Today we wandered the track taking advantage of many of the great photography spots. You could even camp at this racetrack.

DJ Kennington takes a victory lap with the checkered flag.

Keystone Light Girls

See more race action after the jump.

NOS Energy Drink Girls

flames leap out of the exhaust pipe

Pit Row

JR and the driver autographs

On the victory podium: JR Fitzpatrick (2nd), DJ Kennington (1st), Robin Buck (3rd)

DJ and Robin spray champagne at each other

25 day countdown till Honda Indy Toronto 2011

Wednesday June 15 begins the 25 day countdown to the Honda Indy Toronto 2011 and the party begins on Bloor Street.

Photo by Honda Indy Toronto - Fabian Garzon

Canadian IndyCar driver Alex Tagliani (see photo above) will join with a number of drivers from the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Canadian Touring Car and the Ferrari Challenge for an IndyCar themed party which will have a cake from CakeStar in the shape of the Toronto street race track and an IndyCar parked on a William Ashley display of bone china teacups.

GIF animations generator gifup.com

The event takes place in front of William Ashley (Manulife Centre) at 55 Bloor Street West at 11am.

Dr Pepper, Honda Indy Toronto and Marco Andretti

2011 marks the 25th year of open wheel racing in Toronto, initially in 1986 as the CART, Champ Car 'Grand Prix of Toronto' and later in 2009 as the IZOD IndyCar Honda Indy Toronto. That's quite a few years of burning rubber and the heavy rumblings of high power race engines screaming through a site that really comes to life during the annual CNE and Indy race.

The Dr Pepper Snapple group sponsors IZOD IndyCar Series Andretti Autosport's driver Marco Andretti in the #26 Venom Energy car (pictures above). Marco now sits in 13th place in this years racing season (tied with Justin Wilson) and hails from one of the most successful racing families which started with Mario, followed by Michael who runs Andretti Autosports. Hopefully I will get a garage tour with Marco during the July stop in Toronto thanks to Dr Pepper - which has been the official beverage of the Honda Indy Toronto since 2009.

On June 1, 2011 Honda Indy Toronto, run by Green Savoree Toronto ULC, will begin the construction of the Exhibition ground race course and will launch the start of construction on June 1st. Representatives of the owners, Honda Canada and several drivers of the some of the participating series races, including JR Fitzpatrick of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (blue car pictured below) and James Hinchcliffe of IndyCar, will be on hand to help publicize the event. This year will also see exotic car races with the Ferrari North American 458 Challenge Race and one of the drivers will be Robert Herjavec of CBC's the Dragons' Den. 

JR Fitzpatricks NCTS #84 Schick Hydro stock car

Dr Pepper Grandstand

I remember last year at the Dr Pepper grandstand beside turn #11, right across from the entrance to the pits and close to the start/finish line, and how they had barrels of ice cold Dr Pepper free for the people in their grandstand. I believe they also got a free Dr Pepper t-shirt on race day Sunday, a slice of Pizza Pizza and the garage tour with Marco. Hopefully they will have Dr Pepper Cherry this year! You can check out the grandstand prices here.

See more pictures of Marco after the jump.

Stock Cars - pump up the jam

There is not a lot of frills on a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series stock car. Squeeze into the drivers seat, feel the burn and keep the brakes from going up in flames. There is some beauty in the parts and the colours and the racing is pretty cool as well. Here are more pictures from MOPAR Day at Kawartha Speedway.

See more pictures after the jump.