The 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series season is officially in the books.
Sunday’s Pinty’s Fall Brawl at Delaware Speedway marked the season-finale of the Canadain-based series’ 13-race schedule for 2022, one that featured its fair share of full-contact short track and road course racing.
However, the conclusion of Sunday’s 250-lap contest at the half-mile Delaware Speedway didn’t reflect the usual “win at all costs” mantra that the NASCAR Pinty’s Series has been known for in recent years.
With four laps remaining, the field was unleashed for the final restart of the race, which saw Brandon Watson quickly break away from Donald Theetge. However, once Theetge was able to clear DJ Kennington for second place, the gap quickly began to close.
Coming to the white flag, Brandon Watson’s No. 9 Chevrolet slipped exiting turn four, allowing Donald Theetge to close the remaining gap and get to his inside entering the first corner.
Luckily for Watson, Theetge wasn’t able to get the traction necessary to complete the pass for the victory, allowing the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro to regain control of the lead and scurry to the victory at Delaware Speedway.
Despite having the legitimate opportunity to knock the leader out of the way for the victory in the final set of corners, Theetge took the respectful approach and attempted to get underneath Watson at the exit of the corner.
The Stayner, Ontario-native’s triumph at Delaware Speedway on Sunday marked the first win of his NASCAR Pinty’s Series career in his 17th start, while also serving as redemption for a pair of top-five results at the half-mile facility in 2021.
Theetge, piloting his self-owned No. 80 Chevrolet Camaro, finished in the runner-up position in the season finale, his best finish since finishing second at Jukasa Motor Speedway in September 2020.
Both Kevin Lacroix and Treyten Lapcevich were able to get around DJ Kennington in the closing laps to finish third and fourth, while Kennington rounded out the top five in his Castrol Edge Dodge.
Alex Labbe, once again completing the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Pinty’s Series doubleheader weekend, recorded a sixth-place finish, with JP Bergeron, LP Dumoulin, MA Camirand, and Dexter Stacey completing the top-10.
Another notable incident during the race happened in the closing stages when Raphael Lessard was turned around while battling for the lead with Brandon Watson, triggering a 10-car accident, where Andrew Ranger was launched onto Alex Tagliani.
By taking the green flag in the 2022 Pinty’s Fall Brawl, Marc-Antoine Camirand was named the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion, in his first season with GM Paille Racing, a brand-new organization.
