TALLADEGA, Ala. — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve promotor Octane Management announced Friday that the NASCAR Nationwide Series will not return to the 2.71-mile Montreal road course in 2013, ending a six-year relationship.
Francois Dumontier, head of the Octane group that also promotes Formula One racing in the Quebec city, had lobbied for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. NASCAR senior vice president Steve O’Donnell said through his Twitter account that the track’s decision was somewhat of a surprise and that NASCAR’s second-tier series had expected to return.
NASCAR said it was in the process of ironing out its 2013 Nationwide schedule, which has 33 races this season.
“NASCAR appreciates the support and enthusiasm the great fans of Montreal have shown during our six years of exciting racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,” NASCAR said in a statement. “It’s been a great run for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at this historic venue. NASCAR was preparing to return for 2013, however we were unable to come to an agreement to renew the sanction.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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