Local NASCAR Canada Team Launches New Era Under Familiar Names

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

UXBRIDGE: A new chapter is underway for one of Canada’s most respected stock car racing organizations, as, former NASCAR Canada Series champion, Jason Hathaway and Jamie Hakonson-Hathaway officially take ownership of Team 3 Red/EHR.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for the team, founded in 2001, by longtime NASCAR Canada Series supporter, Ed Hakonson, who passed away just over a year ago. The new ownership group said, it is committed to preserving the competitive spirit and values which helped establish the organization as a championship-calibre operation.

The team also maintains strong ties to the Uxbridge area, through their decades-long partnership, with Choko Motorsports, a well-known Canadian motorsports apparel company with deep roots in the local racing community.

Under the new ownership structure, Mr. Hathaway will oversee the team’s No. 3 entry, while Jamie Hakonson-Hathaway will own the No. 8 car program.

“It’s important to us we continue the legacy Ed built,” explained Ms. Hakonson-Hathaway. “This team has always been about hard work, family, and giving talented drivers the opportunity to succeed. We’re proud to carry that forward and excited about what the future holds.”

The No. 3 team enters the 2026 NASCAR Canada Series season with an impressive lineup already in place. Rising Canadian talent, Connor Bell will compete in road and street course events, while veteran racer Alex Tagliani will handle oval-track duties.

Hathaway said, the organization’s primary goal this season is to compete for the NASCAR Canada Series Owners’ Championship, while continuing to focus on developing young Canadian drivers.

“It’s our mission to compete at the highest level of racing in Canada,” said Mr. Hathaway. “We have a strong program this year. Connor had an outstanding two races with us last year, winning in his first ever series race and NASCAR’s inaugural event, at Calabogie Motorsports Park, followed by a podium finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and Tagliani has been a winner on both ovals and road courses.”

Mr. Hathaway believes the combination of Bell’s emerging talent and Mr. Tagliani’s experience provides a strong foundation for the future.

“We’ll be able to continue to work with Connor in his development, and we can call on the tremendous experience and knowledge of Alex to help further our goals and compete for an Owners’ Championship,” he added. “We’re proud to make this announcement, to encourage and promote the tremendous work Ed began with this team.”

The newly structured organization already opened the season on a positive note, at the recent NASCAR Canada Series opener, at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. In a field of more than 30 cars, Bell battled back from a late-race restart incident, in the No. 3 machine, to secure an eighth-place finish, while Dexter Stacey drove the No. 8 car to a 13th-place result.

Team officials said, maintaining the standards established by Ed Hakonson, a 2020 inductee to the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame, remains central to the organization’s future direction, as it looks to remain a competitive force in Canadian motorsports for years to come.

The team’s partners for the 2026 season include: HGC (The Harman Group), Sangsin Brake, Fast Eddie Racewear, and Choko Motorsports.

The next event for Team 3 Red/EHR comes on Saturday, June 6th, at Autodrome Chaudière, in Quebec.