Music: {allcanada} News & Notes: Lapcevich Tuned For Toronto

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- He's been snooping around it for the better part of three seasons and Jeff Lapcevich feels it's time for a trip to Victory Lane, and Toronto would be the perfect place.

Lapcevich, out of Grimsby Ont., is a former winner of the race at Toronto's Exhibition Place when competing in the CASCAR Super Series, the predecessor to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

"We won in Toronto back in the CASCAR days," said Lapcevich. "So we go in there with a level of confidence that we can do well. We just need go out and perform at the level we all know is possible for us."

Adding additional incentive for Lapcevich and the No. 23 Dodge team is that primary sponsor Tim Hortons has its corporate headquarters in Oakville, Ont., just a short drive west along the shore of Lake Ontario from the site of Saturday's Streets of Toronto 100.

"Tim Hortons is based nearby and will have some people at the race," Lapcevich said. "It would be really great to get that first (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) win in front of them, but I know it won't come easy."

J.R. Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger rightfully garner much of the publicity surrounding the series' road-course events, but Lapcevich is always one of the drivers on the short list of potential winners. In his two starts on road courses this season, Lapcevich finished sixth at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que., on June 5 and fourth on June 26 at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont.

"I'm not sure that list is very short anymore," stated Lapcevich. "There was a time when there were only about four or five drivers that could win on a road course. Now, I think the list is as long as it is on the ovals. Everybody has picked up their game across the board."

In 33 series career starts, Lapcevich has five top-five and 18 top-10 finishes, but a new variable was introduced to the equation in 2011 for the Tim Hortons Dodge team. Veteran crew chief Tim Ellas came aboard and, according to the driver, has had an immediate impact.

"He's really had a settling effect on the team," said Lapcevich. "There's a calmness that he brings to everyone and we sometimes need that. He's a veteran of the sport and won some championships. He's definitely made a difference and we'll continue to get better and better."

With their recent performance – six top 10s in the last seven starts dating back to last season – the only way for the Fastline Motorsports and Lapcevich Racing team to get better would be to break through and earn his first NASCAR victory.

Race	Streets of Toronto 100
Date	Saturday, July 9
Time	2:35 p.m. ET
TV Schedule	TSN, Sun., July 17, 5 p.m. ET
Track Layout	1.755-mile temporary street course
2010 Winner	Andrew Ranger
2010 Polesitter	Andrew Ranger
Event Schedule	Fri., July 8: Practice 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Qualifying 4:10 p.m.; Sat., July 9: Driver Autograph Session 11:30 a.m.; Opening Ceremonies 2:15 p.m.
Track Contact	Kathleen Stelmach, (416) 341-9929, kathleen@torchiacom.com
Twitter	@hondaindy
NASCAR IMC Contact	Shon Sbarra, (704) 309-5493 or ssbarra@nascar.com

EVENT SCHEDULE | ENTRY LIST

FAST FACTS
The Race: This event is the fifth of 12 races on the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule and the third of five races this season on road courses. This is the series' second time to be a part of the Honda Indy Toronto.

The Procedure: The starting field is 32 cars, including provisionals. The first 27 cars will qualify through NASCAR road race style qualifying. There will be two qualifying groups based on practice times. The remaining five spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 35 laps covering 100 kilometers (61.4 miles).

The Track: The 11-turn, 1.755-mile temporary road course is set up on the streets of Toronto's Exhibition Place, a unique site situated along the shores of Lake Ontario immediately west of downtown Toronto. Exhibition Place is home to more than 100 special events and trade and consumer shows annually.

The Records: The single-lap qualifying record is held by Andrew Ranger and was set on July 16, 2010 at 76.659 seconds (80.820 mph). Ranger also holds the race record. On July 17, 2010, he completed the event in 55 minutes and 12 seconds for an average speed of 69.065 mph.

The History: Last year was the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event on the streets of Toronto. Andrew Ranger started on the pole and withstood an early charge from J.R. Fitzpatrick and a late one from Jason Bowles to earn the victory.

Site map for 2011 Honda Indy Toronto.

RACE NOTES
Rivalry Renewed: Once again, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger will do battle on a road course. The two drivers have combined to win 15 of the 19 road-course events in series history. Neither, however, has been to Victory Lane after events at Circuit ICAR and Mosport International Raceway.

He's A Contender: Road-course ace Robin Buck has always been considered a contender in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road-racing events, but more often than not for a variety of reasons it never materialized. This year, though, is a different matter. In his two starts he has a win at Circuit ICAR and a third-place showing at Mosport International Raceway after leading 15 of the 51 laps.

Record Number: A NASCAR Canadian Tire Series record 35 cars are expected to be on hand for the Streets of Toronto 100 that has a starting field of 32 cars. In each of the last two seasons at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 32 cars have been on the ground for each of the 32 starting positions. In Toronto, teams representing four Canadian provinces – Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec – will be on hand. Additionally, Jason Bowles, the 2009 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion and 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winner, from, appropriately enough, Ontario, California will make his fourth series start.

Special Appearances: Even though the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race will be held on Saturday, July 9, all of the drivers and cars will be on hand on Sunday for a special autograph session at 11:30 a.m. inside the Direct Energy Centre. Also, the top-three finishers in the Streets of Toronto 100 will be involved in the pre-race ceremony for Sunday's IZOD IndyCar Series event.

Year 25: This year marks the 25th year of racing on the streets of Toronto. The NASCAR Canadian Tires Series joins the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Ferrari Challenge and Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship for this historic event. Ticket and event information can be obtained at www.hondaindytoronto.com.

LAST TIME OUT: Vortex Brake Pads 200
First Time: In his 19th series start on a road course, D.J. Kennington collected his first victory. The 2010 series champion had won nine times previously – all on ovals.

New Face And Car: With Kennington's victory, it was the first time that Dodge was in Victory Lane at Mosport International Raceway. It was also the first time in five races that a driver not named J.R. Fitzpatrick or Andrew Ranger won on the 2.459-mile track.

Streak Snapped: After suffering engine problems and having to retire his No. 8 Farmers Feed Families Dodge after just 10 laps, the string of consecutive top-five finishes for Don Thomson Jr. was halted at eight.

Career Day: Six drivers – Jason White (6th), Dexter Stacey (7th), Isabelle Tremblay (8th), Steve Côté (11th), Martin Roy (14th) and Noel Dowler (16th) – established new series career-best finishes while Howie Scannell Jr. equaled his previous series-best finish with his ninth-place effort. For White, it was his third consecutive top-10 finish, a career series best.

NEXT TIME OUT: A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series begins its two-race swing through Western Canada on Saturday, July 23 at Motoplex Speedway and Event Park for the A&W Cruisin' The Dub 300. The 300-lap event on the half-mile tri-oval is the series' longest race of the season. Last year, Scott Steckly earned the win after three runner-up finishes at the track. D.J. Kennington started on the pole and finished second.