NAPA Auto Parts 200 Is The Inaugural Event For The Busch Series At The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit
Aug 01, 2007
The NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at the historic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course is the inaugural event for the NASCAR Busch Series in Canada and the second points race for the series on international soil. The series has competed in Mexico City since 2005 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The purse for the race is $2,075,651, the third in excess of $2 million in the series this year and the eighth-richest race purse in series history.
There are seven double-duty drivers scheduled to compete this weekend in Montreal and also at Pocono Raceway. Reigning series champion Kevin Harvick (No. 21 AutoZone Chevrolet) and current standings leader Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scotts Ford) will be joined by David Ragan (No. 6 Discount Tire Ford), Jeff Burton (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet), 2002 series champion Greg Biffle No. 37 Yard Man Ford), Robby Gordon (No. 55 Camping World Ford) and David Reutimann (No. 99 NAPA Toyota).
Drivers representing eight countries are entered in the event, led by a 27-man contingent from the United States. Eight Canadians, including Montreal’s own Patrick Carpentier (No. 22 Zelars & Komatsu Dodge) – who will make his NASCAR debut – and veteran NASCAR road ace Ron Fellows (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet - Toronto) lead that group. NASCAR Busch Series regular Marcos Ambrose (No. 59 Kingsford Ford) is from Australia. Michel Jourdain Jr. (No. 17 Dish Network Ford) who won at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Champ Car competition in 2003, and Jorge Goeters (No. 27 Cottonelle Ford), winner of the first Busch Pole at Mexico City, are from Mexico. Additionally, Italy will be represented by Max Papis (No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet); Sweden by Nic Johnssen (No. 28 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet); England by Andy Pilgrim (No. 88 U. S. NAVY Chevrolet) and Venezuela by Alex Garcia (No. 98 Dixien-Omni Source Chevrolet).
