By: Ashley McCubbin

INNISFIL, Ontario — After sitting on the sidelines through the majority of the summer, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series got their first green flag of 2020 at Sunset Speedway last weekend.

One of the drivers who got to celebrate was L.P. Dumoulin, after he survived the chaos on the last lap.

“It was awesome,” he told POPULAR SPEED. “First race of the season with everything that has happened, and to win the first race, it went really well. WeatherTech Canada, Groupe Bellemare – our Sponsors are very understanding with the situation and helpful a ton to make it through the situation. Fortunate to have those partners.”

Throughout the QuickWick 125, Dumoulin kept himself in contention by running inside the top-five, and with the laps winding down, contact was becoming the name of the game ahead of him. A late restart saw contact between Kevin Lacroix and Jason Hathaway at the front.  Though with Brett Taylor going around in turn one and the caution coming out, going back a lap allowed Lacroix and Hathaway to remain ahead of Dumoulin.

The following overtime restart saw more contact, with Hathaway going around in turn three following contact from Lacroix. However, Lacroix got caught up, going around, allowing Dumoulin to get by both and edge out Treyten Lapcevich for the win.

“I mean I saw it from the first couple of restarts,” Dumoulin commented. “By the last two, I knew that was coming. It was the type of the race you wouldn’t know the results due to door banging and animosity. I had to be in the right spot and hold my spot. I’m always a fair driver but you have to do what you can do. I really had to control the car because I got hit by a couple cars but I was able to take advantage of the situation.”

While the second event at Sunset did not go as planned with mechanical issues taking him out of contention, he hopes to carry the momentum to Flamboro Speedway next weekend as the series visits the track for the first time.

“I went there on Sunday but it was raining,” he said. “I had to drive my street car around but it’s part of the game. I think the track is very interesting in that it’ll give a show to the fans. I don’t feel there’s two grooves there so it may be another race we’ll see some beating and banging.”

The last two races of the season, though, will see him in familiar territory as the series heads to Jukasa Motor Speedway. Dumouilin has scored a top-10 in each of his previous appearances, including a pair of top-five’s.

“I love it there – the whole new feel,” he commented. “Everybody involved is really cool. It’s a track that I really enjoy. Unfortunately the last race we were trying a lot of stuff on the car setup and were off. My guys have worked hard through the offseason to improve the car and went to Mike McColl and used the pulldown rig. I’m confident we’ll be a factor this weekend.”