NASCAR | Bottom pit, Andrew laments Ranger

In his early twenties, Andrew Ranger appeared as a rising star at NASCAR. Fifteen years later the American dream is extinct. Or almost. He does not deny a certain bitterness. But the pilot felt good in the Canadian series. Maintenance.

Frederick Duchessno
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“When I watch television and see the top 10 in the Cup series, I know who I competed against, who I passed … I won over them! The same is somewhat depressing. ”

The Roxton Pond pilot – just minutes from Granby – did not, however, succumb to the outrage. Although he and his wife were robbed two weeks ago, Ranger is still in a good mood on the phone.

At the age of 34, the now-experienced veteran finished the season well on the Canadian circuit, NASCAR Pinties. After a solid win last weekend, he finished second on the calendar, eight points behind Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. Small gap. In 2019, Andrew Ranger won the championship. Last year, he did not participate in the much condensed pandemic season.

Ranger has won three Canadian NASCAR Championships – the first in series history, in 2007 – and a record 30 wins. On this side of the border, he has nothing big to prove.

In fact, his career at NASCAR south of the border took shape after his debut in single-seater.

In 2009 – the year of his second Canadian title – he competed in five races in the Nationwide Series, the ancestor of the current Xfinity, the second largest in American NASCAR. Same thing in 2011.

But since 2013, apart from a few incidents scattered around the United States, his career has been Canadian NASCAR.

Example of Raphael Lessard

Talent has never been doubted in the case of Andrew Ranger. But like many before and after him, he hit the financial wall.

He said the phone did not stop ringing completely. But in his view the conditions were not acceptable.

“Instead of costing me $ 100,000 for a race, when they called me to say they would do it for me for $ 30,000, it’s already there, it’s a shame to me. I say to them: Paid driver. “I’m hard to believe that a large series in the United States often cannot pay its drivers.”

In Pintis‌, he explained that he was paying money to take the exams. This sometimes surprised neighbors in the south.

Bitter? “Yes yes…”

As the years go by and with increased awareness on the environment and its strings, the frustration gradually fades. Still.

Xfinity, ARCA, K&N. In the North American series, Ranger practically experienced them.

“And the cup and the exfoliation are different from the others, towards the audience, the visibility. It was definitely on top. But when you talk about the van [Camping World Truck Series, celle où courait Lessard] And you go down in the other series, it costs millions and there is no one in the stands, it just makes me fail, ”he said.

So, there is a recurring theme in motor racing, money, driver drain funds.

But with that said, is Ranger still missing out? A certain aptitude for self-promotion, say. For example, at the age of 48, we think of the gossip of Alex Tagliani, who still has his own place in the NASCAR world.

“Tag, he’s a very good driver, but he’s lucky to sell himself. He’s amazing. Me, I look like Patrick Carpentier, he compares. We do our job and it’s a little hard to sell ourselves as drivers. That side, maybe yes, that’s the little thing I missed. But I have an agent [Alan Labrosse] Who really did his job. Unless at some point the agent finds millions of dollars. ”

Happy

The American door will not be locked twice for a ranger who owns a pilot academy in his name in the Sanyor Complex. By ending his first season with Rick Ware Racing Strong, he may have scored more important points than those in the standings.

The owner owns cars in each of the three major NASCAR series in the United States. So, you never know.

“I think there are still opportunities. If Rick says he wants to keep Andrew in exfoliation for the weekend, let’s go. It’s not that complicated. ”

But, on a permanent basis, Ranger seems to suspect it strongly. In fact there is more. Priorities change as you get older. He soon became the father of a 10-year-old boy.

“Honestly I was really targeting the NASCAR pint. I am very happy with that. I am focused there, my family is in Quebec. I’m really happy with where I am. You never know what will happen, but for now, I really don’t think I’ll do a full season in the United States, ”he said.

His contract for next season has not yet been signed, but he said it was good. The boss was “really satisfied” with his second place in the championship.

Then, Andrew Ranger felt that by himself, the quality of the Pinty series needed to be emphasized. He hires Tagliani, Mark-Antoine Comirand, Dumoulin brothers, DJ Kennington.

“They are all top drivers. So I do not need to say “just pinty”. No. The competition is fierce. It’s not really easy and it’s fun. ”

There are challenges and entertainment and the revenue is good. The best in Canadian NASCAR live a good life, he said.

Unlike what he experiences in the United States, the money goes out of his pocket.

“So at some point one plus one …”