It was my colleague Matthew Vachon who covered the Vallée-Jonction event for the Coops de l’information, but I couldn’t help but send a text message to the Roxton Pond pilot after the race to congratulate him . His response: “Yesssss sirrrrr, I got it!”
Ranger was happy but, above all, relieved. The last two seasons have not been easy for him, he has a new car trainer and he now has the real conviction that he is in the right place with Sylvain Lacroix, Kevin’s father, and with Étienne Cliche, his new team leader.
He even said after the event that he had what it took to fight for the championship. That’s what you’re saying.
Ranger was also happy to give a victory to Jean-Claude Paillé, who has sponsored him for two years.
Ranger proudly waving the checkered flag. (Matthew Manor, NASCAR Canada)
Neglected
The following comments are mine and not those of Andrew Ranger. Because Andrew wouldn’t dare go there, at least not publicly.
Over the past few seasons, we felt that Ranger, three-time champion of the Canadian NASCAR series, was not very well supported by the people from DJ Kennington’s team, who were preparing his car. In fact, it felt like he was being neglected.
Since his association with Sylvain and Kevin Lacroix was announced, Ranger has participated in private trials at ICAR, Bowmanville and Vallée-Jonction. The Lacroix take their sport seriously and there is no question of going to the races just about.
It’s been at least twice, in recent weeks, that Ranger has said to me: “I’ve never done so many tests! I like it and it takes that!”
Because too often he has gone to the races just about, precisely, in recent years.
At 37, Ranger is a veteran. And in races, you are only as good as the result of your last event. The results of the last two seasons were royally tiring for the man and he was not even shy, in an interview recently, to admit that he was under pressure.
But now, he has just won. And there is hope for the future.
The NASCAR Canada series season promises to be interesting.
