The question was on everyone’s lips here last weekend. Had the NASCAR Nationwide Series stopped in Montreal for the last time?
To convince the various levels of government to invest in the event, the organization headed by François Dumontier needs to ensure impressive media coverage.
With the participation of several drivers from Quebec, such as Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier, Andrew Ranger and Maryeve Dufault as well as the queen of IndyCar racing, Danica Patrick, the local TV and radio stations, newspapers and web sites talked a lot about the race.
And this year the event was blessed with Mother Nature’s cooperation as well. We were treated to three glorious summer days at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. The grandstands were half full on Friday, not bad for a weekday, and packed on race-day Saturday. According to NASCAR’s post-race report, over 70,000 spectators attended the race. Pretty impressive.
Mission accomplished for the promoter, who, I believe, demonstrated the viability and potential for success of the event. You had to see the magnificent images broadcast on American television for some three hours to understand that the race was an incredible showcase for Montreal in the United States. That in itself is worth millions in these difficult economic times.
And several drivers also declared their love for our fair city. Even Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who never even raced here, said this event should survive.
But we may have witnessed the last Nationwide Series event in Montreal.
Because according to rumours overheard in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve control tower, NASCAR’s big-ticket series, the Sprint Cup, may very well be on its way here! NASCAR execs are apparently so impressed by Montreal’s atmosphere and the crowd that gathers to attend the secondary series that they’ve initiated talks to bring a Sprint series race here, one of the end of season Chase for the Cup events, no less. Currently, no Chase race is held on a road course, and several drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, would like Montreal to organize the event.
We’ll know more in the upcoming weeks. But François Dumontier didn't seem at all worried about the survival of his race.
To convince the various levels of government to invest in the event, the organization headed by François Dumontier needs to ensure impressive media coverage.
With the participation of several drivers from Quebec, such as Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier, Andrew Ranger and Maryeve Dufault as well as the queen of IndyCar racing, Danica Patrick, the local TV and radio stations, newspapers and web sites talked a lot about the race.
And this year the event was blessed with Mother Nature’s cooperation as well. We were treated to three glorious summer days at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. The grandstands were half full on Friday, not bad for a weekday, and packed on race-day Saturday. According to NASCAR’s post-race report, over 70,000 spectators attended the race. Pretty impressive.
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| Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com |
Mission accomplished for the promoter, who, I believe, demonstrated the viability and potential for success of the event. You had to see the magnificent images broadcast on American television for some three hours to understand that the race was an incredible showcase for Montreal in the United States. That in itself is worth millions in these difficult economic times.
And several drivers also declared their love for our fair city. Even Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who never even raced here, said this event should survive.
But we may have witnessed the last Nationwide Series event in Montreal.
Because according to rumours overheard in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve control tower, NASCAR’s big-ticket series, the Sprint Cup, may very well be on its way here! NASCAR execs are apparently so impressed by Montreal’s atmosphere and the crowd that gathers to attend the secondary series that they’ve initiated talks to bring a Sprint series race here, one of the end of season Chase for the Cup events, no less. Currently, no Chase race is held on a road course, and several drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, would like Montreal to organize the event.
We’ll know more in the upcoming weeks. But François Dumontier didn't seem at all worried about the survival of his race.