The 2018 Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto is probably one Alex
Tagliani wishes he could get back.
And after capturing the pole on Friday for Saturday’s first
street course race of the 2019 NASCAR Pinty’s Series season, perhaps this is
the 45-year-old’s shot at a do-over.
After all, these are very similar circumstances to last
year.
Tagliani entered this race last year just over 20 points out
of the championship lead and captured the pole. He dominated the 2018 race and
only lost when the race went to NASCAR overtime. Andrew Ranger jumped him into
Turn 1 and Tagliani ended-up with damage due to a slugfest with J.F. Dumoulin for
second.
Had Tagliani had an easier time getting around Dumoulin for second, he is still sure he had the speed needed to recapture the top spot from Ranger.
“I think I was really nice, maybe too nice, on that restart,” Tagliani told Short Track Scene on Friday. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be too defensive, especially late and the race and I wasn’t.
“I got caught. It was a great pass. What stopped me from catching back up was the damage from (J.F. Dumoulin) because it knocked the fenders off. Nevertheless, if it’s the same situation tomorrow, it’s not going to be the same. Hopefully, we can lead and get the win.”
Again, Tagliani enters the 2019 race as the pole-sitter and is 20 points out of the championship lead. He knows a win could make the difference. He won the race in 2017 and this is his best course.
“No more Mr. Nice Guy” has a championship to chase starting on Saturday.
The Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto will start at 5:15 ET and will air
live on FansChoice in the United States and on the TSN app in Canada.
When @Tagliani told me he was too nice at the end of last year's race at Exhibition Place, I did not expect him to compensate with a sodding tank. pic.twitter.com/yYWdT59g42
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
