OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The North American dirt track racing community is in profound mourning following the sudden passing of Stéphane Lafrance on June 25, 2026. A native of Casselman, Ontario, who resided in Ottawa, Lafrance was widely revered across Canada and the United States not only as a championship-winning driver but as a visionary race car designer, master engineer, and innovator.
His passing marks the loss of a titan in the 358-Modified racing community, whose contributions off the track through his company, Trick Race Parts, forever altered the landscape of modern dirt track engineering.
A Historic Legacy at Cornwall Motor Speedway
For decades, the Lafrance name has been synonymous with speed and excellence in Eastern Ontario. Stéphane literally wrote his name into the history books at Cornwall Motor Speedway, following in the tire tracks of his legendary father, Marcel Lafrance.
With 18 career 358-Modified feature wins, Stéphane ranks ninth on Cornwall’s all-time wins list, sitting just ahead of his father, who holds the tenth spot.
Career Milestones & Accolades:
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The Golden Season (2011): Lafrance dominated the tracks, capturing both the Cornwall Track Championship and the prestigious Fat Les Chip Stand Canadian Nationals title.
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Two-Time Champion (2014): He cemented his elite status by securing his second Canadian Nationals championship.
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The Mitch Jock Award (2019): Cornwall Motor Speedway honored Lafrance with this highly respected award, recognizing his outstanding, unselfish contributions to the sport and his unwavering support of rival race teams.
“Trick Race Parts”: The Mind of a Racing Genius
While fans loved him behind the wheel, drivers and crews revered him in the garage. As the owner and operating mind behind Trick Race Parts, Lafrance was a meticulous perfectionist who looked at race cars through the lens of a pure engineer.
From custom body panels distributed through partners like Hoffman Speed Supplies to specialized racing shocks, Lafrance was constantly designing, tweaking, and inventing new ways to push mechanical limits and make cars go faster.
Stéphane Lafrance: Career & Quick Statistics
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Hometown : Casselman, Ontario
Resided : Ottawa, Ontario
Education : École secondaire de Casselman
All-Time Rank : 9th Overall (18 Career 358-Modified Wins)
Championships : 2011 Cornwall Track Champion | 2011 & 2014 Canadian Nationals
Business Enterprise: Owner, Trick Race Parts
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“A Crazy Frenchman” Remembered for His Generous Soul
Beyond the championships, trophies, and engineering breakthroughs, the outpouring of grief from the racing world highlights Lafrance’s true legacy: his humor and immense generosity. He was infamous for random phone calls to offer mechanical advice, a quick-witted sense of humor, and a blunt, charismatic personality.
“Stéphane was anything but average,” recalled close friend Brett Minaker in a moving tribute. “He was meticulous, a perfectionist, funny as fuck, a mentor, a genius, generous, and one of the best guys behind the wheel. Everyone knew the name Stéphane, and everyone liked him.”
Whether he was delivering body panels to local speed shops or designing custom builds for high-stakes events like Cornwall’s famous “Run What You Brung” showcases, Lafrance treated everyone with fairness, respect, and unmatched camaraderie.
Stéphane is survived by a loving family, including his devoted nephew Joel Lafrance, and his cousins Nadia Bazinet, Claudine Bazinet, and Josée Sabourin, alongside thousands of friends, drivers, and fans across the North American racing circuit.
Memorial Tributes and Services
In honor of his monumental impact on the sport, Cornwall Motor Speedway will host a simple tribute for Lafrance this coming Sunday. To allow the entire racing community to properly salute his memory, organizers have announced that a larger, comprehensive celebration of life will be held during a special race program in the coming weeks.