Top Drivers are Eager to Return to Montreal for NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge

Saturday July 4, 2009

 

Kenny Wallace Announces Special Fan Event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August

Daytona Beach, FL – July 4, 2009 – Several top NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers expressed their excitement to return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this year and compete in the third annual NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented By Dodge on August 30, 2009.

At a press conference held yesterday at Daytona International Speedway, Patrick Carpentier, Carl Edwards, and Kenny Wallace spoke with the media about the upcoming event. Also joining the drivers was Francois Dumontier, promoter of the event.

Quebec native, Patrick Carpentier loves competing in a stock car in his home country. “It’s a fun weekend. It has always been fun for me because it is home.” As a two time runner up of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, Patrick commented on the competition he will battle to attain his first stock car victory. “It will be tough this year because you’ve got a lot of good guys coming over from the Sprint Cup since they don’t have a race that weekend. There will be racing on Saturday and Sunday so that should be fun for the fans.” Given the heightened competition, Patrick still believes he can win. “I’ll be there with Michael Waltrip again. We had a good, fun weekend at Sonoma in the Sprint Cup car. I think they can get a pretty good car [for Montreal].”

As Carl Edwards reflected back on last year’s race, he thinks of the fans in Montreal. “That whole event was amazing to me because of the fans. It started raining and I thought people would be upset and leave. There wasn’t an empty seat in the place. Everyone just had ponchos and umbrellas, and they were enjoying it.” Going to Montreal for the third year, Carl still loves making the trip. “I love going to Montreal. I’m real excited that it is a stand alone race, so we can go do a little bicycling and sightseeing. It’s just a beautiful place.”

Kenny Wallace announced his fan-sponsored car for Montreal and even Patrick Capentier could not help but chip in. Kenny explained “I love going to Canada, me and my wife…It’s got that international flare up there, so we really enjoyed it. And I want to go back again.” While looking for a sponsor to run in Montreal, Wallace found himself turning to social media. A fan on his Facebook page suggested a fan-sponsored car. “I ignored [the suggestion]. But like six weeks later, there were hundreds of them on there. ‘We want to sponsor your car.’ ‘We want the fan car.’ So I went to a lot of people and got suggestions…I really got talked into doing it. So we’ve done it.”

Kenny also announced a special “meet-and-greet” opportunity at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the August race weekend for fans who participated in the special promotion. “I am really excited and happy that Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Stock-Car Montreal have gotten behind this program. It humbles me, I’m humbled by the fans and everybody, and now for the race track and the promoter to set up a special meet and greet for the fans who sponsored my car is great. The fans that have put their name on my car can meet with me and get an autograph so I can say thanks for their support.”

NAPA Auto Parts 200 promoter Francois Dumontier commented on having a NASCAR event in Montreal. “It has always been pretty good. I’m pretty sure that I am not just speaking on behalf of my group but on behalf of the Montreal community and Mayor Tremblay. Everybody is pretty proud and excited to have a NASCAR event in Montreal. We are looking forward to the third edition.”

This year’s event weekend will kick off with the roar of the Daytona Prototypes and GT sports cars of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 on August 29. Tickets to both events are available by calling 514-397-0007 or online at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca.

This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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