The Allrem Racing team was in the spotlight on Thursday evening as Steve Côté officially received his Rookie of the Year trophy for the NASCAR Canada Series presented by Pinty’s and Evirum, during the official NASCAR Awards ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Québec driver made his mark this season, earning the title of Josten’s 2024 Rookie of the Year. Under the leadership of Crew Chief Jonathan Côté, the new Allrem Racing team was formed in the winter of 2024, just months before the season opener. Originally planned as a learning year, the team quickly realized that the long hours of preparation over the winter had not been in vain, with their efforts paying off right from the first race.
“I am very proud of our team, which joined the NASCAR Canada Series for the very first time this year,” commented Erik de Pokomandy, President of Allrem Sports & Entertainment. “Jonathan, Steve, and the entire team worked incredibly hard, tirelessly, to be competitive from the very first laps of this young crew. This team was born from the passion of our owner and our Crew Chief, Jonathan Côté. From the beginning, this team was driven by the desire to be competitive and to strive for nothing less than victory, at every race, with exemplary determination. Few believed in our ability to be competitive in our first year; Steve, Jonathan, and the entire team proved all the doubters wrong. It’s this winning mentality that earned Steve the Rookie of the Year title and brought recognition to Allrem Racing at the official NASCAR ceremony in Charlotte, in just our first year.”
Steve Côté stood out at the wheel of the #29 Chevrolet Allrem Racing Evirum/BKFC, particularly during his second NASCAR Canada race, where he qualified fifth at Autodrome Chaudière. One of his season highlights came at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in August. Starting the weekend on a challenging note with engine trouble, he started from the back of the grid and fought his way to an impressive ninth-place finish in a tightly contested race.
At Delaware Speedway, he was running among the leaders, but mechanical issues tamed his hopes of a first podium finish. A similar scenario occurred during the season finale at Montmagny, where renewed hopes for a podium were cut short due to mechanical setbacks.
“I am happy to have won the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award,” said Steve Côté the day after the ceremony in Charlotte. “This achievement is a bright spot in what was, at times, a challenging first season, but one filled with very promising signs for the future. Despite numerous mechanical issues, we were able to show that we can be competitive and run consistently in the top five.”
“This year was full of challenges, but we overcame them one by one,” added Jonathan Côté, Crew Chief. “Thanks to the support of our sponsors, we were able to conduct several tests before the races, which helped us prepare well. Despite some mechanical issues beyond our control, we proved that Allrem Racing is a team to be taken seriously. We fully intend to fight for the C
hampionship in 2025. Now we know it’s within reach, and we have the ability to achieve it. Being here in Charlotte to receive the Rookie of the Year trophy in our first season is a wonderful accolade of all the hard work by Steve and the entire team, and it makes me extremely proud.”
In conclusion, Erik de Pokomandy noted, “On the commercial side, our goal was to stand out from the moment we entered NASCAR Canada. Thanks to our marketing team, we achieved this goal and contributed to the commercial success of our partners. I want to thank Evirum and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship for their invaluable support throughout the season. Without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Steve Cote PR
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