Montréal, July 14, 2010 - Andrew Ranger, one of the most popular and talented Quebec drivers of his generation, will compete in the 2010 NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge on August 28-29 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. With sponsorship from the Dodge Dealers of Québec, the 23-year old from Roxton Pond, Québec will be looking for his first-ever NASCAR Nationwide Series win, following a remarkable third place finish last year in Montréal. The deal also includes sponsorship for four rounds of the NASCAR Canadian Tires Series. Ranger will be driving a Baker-Curb Racing Dodge Charger in the 74-lap Nationwide race against Carl Edwards and Marcos Ambrose, the only drivers who beat him to the checkered flag last year in Montréal.
"We are thrilled to team up with Andrew Ranger in his quest to win the Montréal NASCAR Nationwide event of which Dodge is also a proud presenting sponsor," said Jean Gosselin, President of the Quebec Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram Dealers Advertising Coop. "We believe that it is a privilege to be associated with the highest ranking Québec driver in last year's NASCAR Series. We know he is very talented, highly motivated, and always ready for a challenge, and our Dodge dealers know all about challenges. We are happy to announce that our backing also includes four NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races, including the Montréal event."
François Dumontier, President of Octane Management and delegated promoter of the event, was also quite pleased with the announcement. "We believe that Dodge has made a sound choice by supporting Andrew. He is definitively one of the contenders at our race. His performance last year delighted the crowd at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and I am sure that they are pleased with today's announcement. Each time Andrew has shown up at our track to compete in whatever series, he's always been very competitive in front of the home crowd. We are sure that he will show his fans once again that he is up to the August 28-29 challenge."
Ranger will be making his seventh Nationwide Series start in Montréal. In his first-ever start in that series in 2008 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, he qualified 15th and ran among the leaders for a while before rain ruined his race as it did for many others. He had shown enough to be invited to drive Armando Fitz' Dodge in four other Nationwide races at Bristol, Richmond, Kansas and Charlotte. Appearing last year at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, he did well qualifying the CJM Racing entry in ninth place, before moving to the front to lead the race for 10 laps. He kept in touch with Edwards and Ambrose to finish third, ahead of Jacques Villeneuve. Running three full seasons in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the Canadian driver won the title twice with a record of five poles, eight wins, 20 top-5 and 31 top-10 finishes. This season, he is running south of the border in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, one of NASCAR's development series. In four starts so far, he has captured one pole, scored a win, earned 2 Top-5 and 3 Top-10 finishes. He won at Sonoma in the K&N Pro Series West on June 9.
"I am happy with the faith entrusted in me by the Québec Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram Dealers Coop," Andrew Ranger said. "I know the track well, and I am at ease competing in front of the home crowd. It is always a great source of motivation to run at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Last year, I experienced some extraordinary moments battling with the likes of Carl, Marcos, and Jacques. They will be back this year and I know they all want to win, but with a great Dodge car that is being prepared for me, and the extra year of experience, I think that I have legitimate chance to win ahead of them. This will be my state of mind when I will arrive at the track."
Tickets for the 2010 Montreal NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge are currently on sale. To order the best grandstands tickets and see Andrew Ranger take on the likes of Marcos Ambrose, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, the current series points leader, Justin Allgaier, Paul Menard, Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier, as well as several other NASCAR stars on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday and Sunday August 28-29, fans must call 514 397-0007 or order online anytime at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/en/.
Mandated by Stock-Car Montréal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) based in Daytona Beach, Florida, Octane Management is, since 2009, the delegated promoter of the NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge. ISC is the leading promoter of motorsports in North America, hosting over 100 major racing events each year.
The Québec Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram Dealers Coop, representing its 93 dealers across the province, proudly offers the hottest models of the summer such as the Dodge Grand Caravans, Chargers, Journeys, Challengers and Ram trucks as well as the full line of Jeep utility vehicles featuring the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee, arriving soon in a dealership showrooms.
Photo: Andrew Ranger will be sponsored by the Dodge Dealers of Québec in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge on August 28-29 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (image courtesy of Stock-Car Montreal)
From Normand Prieur // National Press Officer
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