Jantzi, White scrap at Formula Ford race

The best race of the ones I saw on the weekend — the Formula One round from Singapore yesterday morning, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series finale at Kawartha Speedway on Saturday night and the Formula Ford Can-Am Cup race at Mosport yesterday afternoon — was the Can-Am Cup, easily.

Matt White from Toronto started on pole (the Can-Am Cup is a challenge event sponsored by eFormulaCarNews.com pitting the best Canadian FF racers against the best Americans) and immediately found Shane Jantzi of Ayr hot on his heels.

For the next 22 minutes plus one lap (a timed race with a bonus lap tacked on), those two traded the lead back and forth so many times it was almost impossible to keep count.

My notebook jottings said it all: "Matt in front — again." "Shane back in front." "Matt!" "Shane!" "Last lap — Matt still ahead." "Shane passes M. on the backstretch!"

They went into Mosport's final curve, Corner 10, for the last time side-by-side, fighting fiercely but fairly. At speeds averaging just a smidgen over 160 km/h, either could have moved to knock the other out of the way, or to bump the other's car enough to unsettle it and gain an advantage.

But those two guys respect each other too much for that sort of nonsense so, in the words of track announcer Glenn Butt, it was a drag-race along the front stretch to the flag stand and Jantzi won it by about half a car length — or 0.017 seconds, to be precise.

The first thing the winner did when he unbuckled his safety harness in front of the podium was to exit his car and go directly to White's, which was behind his in Winner's Circle.

"Matt, that was awesome,"" Jantzi shouted through his helmet. "My hat's off to you for a great run."

The Can-Am Cup challenge was started three years ago and Jantzi has won it every year.

Said White in his podium interview: "Shane is my favourite driver to go wheel-to-wheel with. I've got my championships (he"s won two Ontario Formula Ford Series titles), now I just have to win this Cup!"

Then he added, tongue-in-cheek: "Maybe Shane won't be here next year . . ."

Jantzi was unable to participate in the traditional champagne-spraying ceremony — which included third-place finisher Dean Baker of Blackstock — because he couldn't get the plug out of his jug.

"I don't know how to get this open," shouted the non-drinker, who keeps in shape for racing by running marathons.

White showed him how.

Although still young men, those two guys are not kids. While it's not too late for both to still have ambitions to move up in motorsport, the reality is that neither has the big bucks necessary to climb much higher on the ladder.

So both said that unless they win the lottery, or are the recipient of some other, similar, good fortune, the chances are they'll be back battling each other in Formula Fords again next year.

But you know what? If they keep racing each other like they did yesterday, they don't ever have to stop.

NASCAR

It sure was interesting at Kawartha Speedway on Saturday night.

Scott Steckly, who'd been the points leader in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series all season, had seen his lead whittled down to 167 points because of a late-season charge by five-time CASCAR champion Don Thomson Jr.

So going into the final race of the season — the Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Ram 250 — any number of possibilities came into play, such as Thomson could win the title if he won the race, led the most laps and Steckly finished worst than eighth — or something. You get my drift.

So during practice and qualifying, Steckly walked around the pit and infield areas looking loose as a goose. He was smiling, laughing and generally seemed to be enjoying himself. No pressure, apparently, on him.

Thomson, on the other hand, looked all business. He wasn't doing much smiling and he sure was doing a lot of smoking.

They started side-by-side on the front row, a couple of gunslingers. Fate, as it always does, got in the way, however.

Thomson had mechanical issues early in the race and spent a lot of time in the pits. He eventually battled his way back to fifth but it wasn't enough.

Steckly's heart had to have been in his mouth when he and John Gaunt rubbed fenders fairly early in the race and the resulting spin sent Steckly's Dodge up the track to touch the wall. It was enough of a whack, however, that it knocked his steering for a loop and although he was able to continue racing, he wasn't going to be able to fight much if ever the chips were down.

So the championship contenders were both wounded. It was touch-and-go whether they'd be able to make it through to the checkers.

But Mother Nature intervened in the form of a persistent drizzle and the race, and the championship, ended under yellow. NASCAR gave it the old college try but they weren't going to be able to dry the track and so it was better to end it when they did - on lap 174 - rather than hope against hope that they'd be able to get any more green-flag running in.

Jason Hathaway, of Appin, finished first - his first big-league victory, by the way, with D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas second and Ron Beauchamp Jr. of Windsor third. Kennington — who likely will head south to race full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next summer — was third in the championship chase behind Steckly, of Milverton, and Thomson, of Ayr.

Formula One

What more can be said about the F1 race?

Okay, so it was at night. I wish it had been held during the day because Singapore looks like a beautiful city but you couldn't really tell because it was dark.

Fernando Alonso fluked the win — it happens — with Nico Rosberg second (a wonderful result for him) and Lewis Hamilton third.

Felipe Massa was the victim of more Ferrari ineptitude when he was given the signal to leave the pits, which he did, but with the fuel hose still attached to the car. If not for that, he likely would have won. It's time somebody got fired at Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen has driven much of the season as if he didn't really care all that much and he continued in that vein yesterday, crashing out near the end of the race because of sheer boredom.

Okay, I can't prove that last bit but it sure seems to be the case. He just got a fat new contract, too.