By: Ashley McCubbin

LONDON, Ontario —Coming into the weekend, the focus was on Alex Tagliani and whether he could seal his first career NASCAR Pinty’s Series Championship. However, as the No. 18 ran mid-pack in the first of three races on the weekend, everyone’s eyes shifted to L.P. Dumoulin.

Relying on the poise and experience that has made him a champion in the past, Dumoulin did what he needed to do to be crowned the 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series Champion.

“It feels outstanding, epic,” he told NEWS FROM THE PITS. “It’s the third time, but every year, every time you get a championship, is epic. I can’t believe we did it again with the WeatherTech Bellemare car. Thanks to the Pinty’s Series, NASCAR, the fans, everybody involved in the series. I know it’s been a tough two years with the COVID stuff, here we are, champions for 2021.

“My team did an outstanding job. it’s incredible. So we will celebrate for sure.”

While the fireworks transpired for the win on Friday between D.J. Kennington and Treyten Lapcevich, Dumoulin quietly scored an eighth-place finish. He then carried the momentum into Sunday to score a sixth in the Qwick Wick 125 to give him the points lead.

Knowing the task at hand and a finish of seventh or better would hand him the crown no matter what anyone else did, the past series champion remained focused on the task at hand. He kept out of trouble as incidents happened around him, crossing the line third with the championship.

“It was really challenging to go into the weekend with 11 points behind,” he admitted. “I know Alex (Tagliani) was fast and did a great job all season and actually, by the second race today, DJ (Kennington) was closing in the points as well. It was tough all weekend long to focus on getting the job done and getting the championship.

“I think we did a good job at improving the car. I like the track here, Delaware; it’s a fun track to drive. You can race really well here, so it was a lot of fun.”

Across the 10 races this season, the veteran was consistent with four top-five’s and just one result outside of the top-10. He also scored a victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park after leading just 10 laps, which turned into a very memorable moment.

“Winning CTMP there with my family, my kids, my wife, my sponsors and friends around me on the podium was outstanding,” he commented. “The kids couldn’t get off the podium. They got pissed when we pulled them off the podium so it was a lot of fun.”

While his family was not there with him on Sunday at Delaware Speedway, there’s certainly set to be a party at the Dumoulin household in the days to come.