Montreal Gets Busch Series Racing Event

MONTREAL (AP) _ NASCAR will hold a Busch Series event in Montreal next summer _ another step in covering the entire North American market. <br/><br/>The stock car racing series once centered in the American

Tuesday, October 3rd 2006, 10:41 am

By: News On 6

MONTREAL (AP) _ NASCAR will hold a Busch Series event in Montreal next summer _ another step in covering the entire North American market.

The stock car racing series once centered in the American South will hold a Busch race Aug. 4 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a track where sleek Formula One cars usually run.

The two-day event announced Monday will feature a Grand-Am Series race Aug. 3, with Busch cars taking over the following day.

``It's a great setting and we're excited to be here next August,'' said NASCAR chief executive Brian France, who flew in with top executives and a driver from each series for the announcement. France has worked on this project for two years.

The Busch Series, one level below the Nextel Cup, will race on the 2.7-mile road track that hosts the Canadian Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar.

NASCAR already has Busch events in Mexico and the organization views the move into Canada as a way to expand its reach.

NASCAR said last week it would put the Montreal event on its 35-race Busch Series schedule for 2007, but organizers delayed the official announcement until all details were settled.

France was accompanied by NASCAR vice president John Saunders, Grand-Am president Roger Edmunson, Grand-Am driver David Donohue and Busch veteran Kenny Wallace.

Montreal will replace a Busch race in Martinsville, Va. The Montreal event bumps the Champ Cars off the track, but the Champ Car World Series has lined up a July 1 race in St-Jovite, about 90 miles from Montreal. That gives the area three major motor racing dates next summer, including the Canadian Grand Prix in June.