Nationwide Series -- Race No. 25 -- NAPA Auto Parts 200
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2.71-mile road course) – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Fast Facts for August 29-30, 2009

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Road Course Radials

Number of Tires: 1,150

Tire Code: D-4230 (same on all four tire positions)

Tire Circumference: 88.6 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 23 psi; Right Front -- 23 psi;
Left Rear -- 20 psi; Right Rear -- 20 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 22 psi; Right Front -- 20 psi;
Left Rear -- 17 psi; Right Rear -- 17 psi

Notes: This is the first time that NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have run this Goodyear tire code (D-4230) . . . Nationwide teams ran a slightly different road course tire at Watkins Glen earlier this month . . . Montreal is the only track at which teams in this series will run this code in 2009 . . . this code, which is run on all four tire positions at Montreal, is also run by NASCAR Sprint Cup teams at both the Infineon road course (all four positions) and Martinsville short track (right-side only) . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Montreal.

Wet Weather Tires: Goodyear has brought 600 wet weather tires, should NASCAR deem that conditions warrant . . . this tire is new for 2009, but was brought for use by Nationwide Series teams at Watkins Glen earlier this month . . . this tire was tested by Juan Pablo Montoya at the Goodyear proving grounds in San Angelo, Texas this past November . . . this is a new tire code (D-4215), and introduces the use of carbon fiber technology into NASCAR . . . the carbon fiber helps reinforce the tire's sidewalls for enhanced handling and contact with the course . . . this tire also features a different tread pattern from last year's wet weather tire that was run at Montreal . . . a road car version of the tread pattern is featured on the Goodyear Eagle F1 All-Season high performance car tire.

• Edwards wins at Montreal: #60-Carl Edwards won the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve by passing #47-Marcos Ambrose coming off the last turn on the last lap when Ambrose lost control of his car in the corner. Ambrose had dominated the race, leading 60 of the 74 laps. #11-Andrew Ranger finished third. The rest of the top 10: #32-Jacque Villeneuve, #88-Brad Keselowski, #34-Tony Raines, #23-Jean Francois Dumoulin, #29-Stephen Leicht, #62-Brendan Gaughan, and #18-Kyle Busch. The race was halted on lap 60 when it began to rain. NASCAR had teams switch over to rain setups and they finished the race on rain tires. There were a record 11 cautions for 31 laps and 7 lead changes among 4 leaders. The race took 3 hours, 49 minutes, 19 seconds, the longest in Nationwide Series history, and the average speed was just 53.869mph.(8-30-2009)

• Montreal Race Fast Facts:
  Carl Edwards won the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 presented by Dodge, his 23rd victory in 166 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
  This is his third victory and 20th top-10 finish in 2009.
  This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
  Marcos Ambrose (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. It is his second top-10 finish in 2009.
  Andrew Ranger (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
  Brendan Gaughan (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
  Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 192 points over Carl Edwards.
  (NASCAR Statistics)(8-30-2009)

  
  
• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Montreal and their finish
  Caution 1: none, no one on track a lap down
  Caution 2: none, no one on track a lap down
  Caution 3: #40-Jeffrey Earnhardt, 31st
  Caution 4: #40-Jeffrey Earnhardt (2), 31st
  Caution 5: #40-Jeffrey Earnhardt (3), 31st
  Caution 6: #6-Erik Darnell, 12th
  Caution 7: #41-Stanton Barrett, 24th
  Caution 8: #66-Steve Wallace, 16th
  Caution 9: #86-Antonio Perez, 13th
  Caution 10: #75-Brett Rowe, 21st
  Caution 11: #01-Mike Wallace, 19th
  (NASCAR PR)(8-30-2009)

Ambrose on pole at Montreal: #47-Marcos Ambrose won the Coors Light Pole for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with a speed of 80.934mph. #60-Carl Edwards will start second. The rest of the top 10: #5-Ron Fellows, #09-Boris Said, #20-Brad Coleman, #32-Jacques Villeneuve, #10-Justin Marks, #86-Antonio Perez, #11-Andrew Ranger, and #98-Paul Menard. The session was delayed at the start because it was raining and NASCAR prefered to run the session on a dry track. However, they decided to run in the rain so the session could be completed before it got too dark. It was the first time in the history of the series that they qualified in the rain. Did Not Qualify: #31-Daryl Harr and #89-Morgan Shepherd.(8-29-2009)

Second practice cancelled: NASCAR has cancelled Happy Hour at Montreal. They wanted to run the session in on dry tires since the first session was run on rain tires. However, they didn't have time to dry the track without throwing off the rest of the day's schedule.(8-29-2009)

Papis fastest in opening practice: #1-Max Pais was the fastest in the opening practice session for the NAPA Auto Parts 200. His top speed was 85.632mph. The rest of the top 10: #38-Jason Leffler, #99-Patrick Carpentier, #11-Andrew Ranger, #96-Michael McDowell, #10-Justin Marks, #20-Brad Coleman, #5-Ron Fellows, #62-Brendan Gaughan, and #40-Jeffrey Earnhardt. It did rain during the session and teams ran with rain tires. The only incident was an accident by #40-Earnhardt in turn 1. The team will repair the car.(8-29-2009)

Entry List: UPDATES: There are 45 cars on the preliminary entry list for Sunday's NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Some notes:
David Green will drive the #0 (and is eligible for the past champion's provisional)
Mike Wallace will be in the #01 in place of Danny O'Quinn, who left the team last week
Max Papis is in the #1 for Phoenix Racing;
The #05 is TBA;
Kris Szekeres is in the #07;
Boris Said returns to the RAB Racing #09;
The driver of the #23 is Jean Francois Dumoulin;
Jacques Villeneuve drives the #32 for Braun Racing;
J.R. Fitzpatrick is in the KHI #33:
Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to the Key Motorsports #40;
Marcos Ambrose is back in the JTG Daugherty #47;
Tony Ave will drive the Jimmy Means #52;
D.J. Kennington will be in the #61 for Specialty Racing;
Patrick Carpentier will be in the MWR #99; (8-24-2009)
UPDATE: Andy Lally will now be in the #0 for Johnny Davis and Victor Gonzalez, Jr. will drive the #05 for Day Enterprises.(8-25-009)
UPDATE 2: Antonio Perez and the #86 team have been added. There are now 46 cars listed.(8-26-009)
UPDATE 3: The #07 SK Motorsports team is not in Montreal.This is the first race the team has skipped. They were 32nd in owner points.(8-28-009)

So What’s Next? Montreal Provides Plenty Of Surprises

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2009) - One of NASCAR’s youngest races has become one of its most unpredictable.

In 2007, the inaugural event for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Circuit Gilles Villenueve in Montreal, three drivers did burnouts on the frontstretch after the race. Two – actual winner Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon – thought they had won. The other, Quebec’s Patrick Carpentier (#99 NAPA Toyota), couldn’t contain his excitement at finishing second.

And who could forget last year? Certainly not Ron Fellows (#5 Fastenal Chevy), another native Canadian who not only won the race, but did so in historic fashion as NASCAR ran its first points race in the rain. Another lasting image – Carl Edwards (#60 CitiFinancial Ford) using a Swiffer while driving to clear the raindrops from his windshield.

This time around, Fellows is back to defend his victory, but will be challenged by the strongest field of Canadian drivers in the short three-year history of the event.

Also among the nine Canadian entrants, Carpentier returns as does Jacques Villeneuve (#32 Dollar General Toyota), driving on the track named after his father. Andrew Ranger (#11 Ridemakerz Toyota), 22, leads the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series standings. Open-wheel star Alex Tagliani (#81 Quebec Dodge Dealers Association Dodge) will drive for Canadian owner Randy MacDonald. J.R. Fitzpatrick, now on board as a developmental driver for Kevin Harvick Inc., will be in the #33 Shick Chevy, a tall order for the 21-year-old to step into a former winner’s (and his bosses’) shoes.

Darryl Harr (#31 Chevy), Jean Francois Dumoulin (#23 Mahindra Chevy) and DJ Kennington (#61 Specialty Racing Ford) round out the Canadian contingent.

Among the group, only Dumoulin and Tagliani are debuting in a NASCAR Nationwide Series car.

More to watch: Marcos Ambrose (#47 Armor All Toyota) has unfinished business. He was challenging for the win in 2007 – he led 37 laps – before he and Gordon staged a memorable late-race spinning match; Ambrose got the short end and wound up seventh. Last year he led 27 laps but was caught speeding on pit road – again, late in the event – and lost his momentum and the race.

There’s also the intrigue surrounding Ambrose and Kyle Busch (#18 Interstate Batteries Toyota), the series standings leader. Three weeks ago, the last time the two drivers met in series competition, Ambrose sprung a “surprise” pass on Busch in the chicane at Watkins Glen, overtaking Busch for the lead and ultimately the win. This will be Busch’s debut on the track, but he’s 1-1 in international series races, winning at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City in his only race there in 2008.

Different ‘Double-Duty’ At Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

There will be plenty of “double-duty” racing in Montreal, starting with the “usual” kind involving NASCAR national series competition.  Kyle Busch and Colin Braun (#16 3M Ford) are entered in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday night before coming to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Add to that mix a new type of double-dip for Carl Edwards, Marcos Ambrose and Brendan Gaughan (#62 USFidelis Chevy), who will debut in Rolex Grand-American racing in addition to their regular NASCAR Nationwide Series duties this weekend in Montreal.

Edwards and Ambrose will team together in the #77 Ford Dallara for Doran Racing in the Daytona Prototype (DP) class. Gaughan will join Rolex 24 and Daytona champion Andy Lally in the #66 Porsche GT3 for TRD. Lally also was announced this week to run in the NASCAR Nationwide race, driving the #0 sponsordavis.com Chevy for J-D Motorsports. He has competed at least once in each of NASCAR’s national series, most recently earlier this month at The Glen in NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Additionally, five drivers will run in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and NASCAR Nationwide races this weekend: JR Fitzpatrick, Darryl Harr, DJ Kennington, Andrew Ranger and Alex Talgiani. 

Young Drivers Make Their Mark In Montreal

Road-course specialists – like defending winner Ron Fellows – Boris Said (#09 Zaxby’s Ford), Max Papis (#1 Miccosukee Resort Chevy) and the numerous other experts in the field for Montreal are expected to compete well in their familiar discipline.

But Fellows is the only road-course ace among them who has had winning success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Otherwise, stock-car regulars more than hold their own or are actually considered favorites on road courses.

Fellows has four wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series on road venues, three at Watkins Glen and last year at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Fellows has to be considered a favorite going in to Sunday’s race, but it’s not just the stock-car aficionados who are worth watching. Keep an eye on the younger drivers, too.  Last year at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Colin Braun, 20, won the pole in his third NASCAR Nationwide start. He set up the car for 2002 series champion Greg Biffle for this race last year; Biffle finished eighth.

Brad Coleman (#20 BigSpot.com Toyota), 21, who teamed with Braun in 2005 as the duo became the youngest to run in the Rolex Grand-Am GT Class (they finished seventh), began his career on road courses.

Stephen Leicht (#29 Holiday Inn Chevy), 22, finished fifth in the inaugural race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He dialed in the car last year for Clint Bowyer; the eventual series champion finished ninth.

Steve Wallace (#66 5-Hour Energy Chevy), 22, isn’t synonymous with road courses but he’s had success on them. He was 10th in this race last year and also was 10th in Mexico City in 2008. He was 12th at Watkins Glen earlier this month.

Andrew Ranger and JR Fitzpatrick don’t have extensive experience in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but their stock-car IQ is growing with each race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Ranger won that series’ title in 2007, is the current standings leader and won the Canadian Tire Series race in Montreal last year.

Jeffrey Earnhardt (#40 Key Motorsports Chevy) turned 20 on June 22 and is the youngest driver in the field. He’ll be making his NASCAR national series road course debut in only his second series race, but has been solid on NASCAR Camping World Series East road courses. In 2008, he posted two top fives in three races (Lime Rock Park and The Glen).

Unique Sponsorship Opportunity Has Fans “Riding” With Wallace

Almost speechless.

Believe it or not, that describes Kenny Wallace (#28 Thank You Fans Chevy), after he learned that more than 5.000 fans – or in this case “sponsors” – have extended their support to Wallace in Montreal.

For a $20 donation, fans were able to submit their name which appears on the hood of Wallace’s car for Sunday’s race.

“We were able to raise enough money to compete in the race,” Wallace said. “I couldn’t be more thankful or more humbled.”

The idea came about through Wallace’s social networking avenues. His friends on his Facebook page suggested a fan-sponsored car for the event and the response was tremendous.

The fans’ names are on the hood, TV panel and rear deck lid and are from 49 states (excluding Hawaii), Canada, India, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“We have to offer our own special thanks to Kenny and the fans for putting the #28 Chevy in a great position (to) be fully prepared with a car capable of competing for the win,” said team owner Jay Robinson.

IN THE LOOP

Favorites Live Up To Expectations

In sports, statistics don’t always match with the predictions.

A prognosticator’s favorites at a NASCAR race sometimes – even oftentimes – fail to match the stat sheet.

That’s not the case at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where those drivers with the pressure of being called “favorites” live up to those expectations.

At the top of any prediction list at a road course: Marcos Ambrose, Ron Fellows, Patrick Carpentier and Boris Said.

At the top of the pre-race Montreal Driver Rating: Ambrose, Fellows, Carpentier and Said.

They are clearly the favorites Sunday (though Kyle Busch will make his first start at Montreal, and does not have any statistics).

Here is a miniature statistical bio on each of the above drivers:

Ambrose, winner of the last two Watkins Glen road course races, has a Driver Rating of 138.5, an Average Running Position of 2.3, 29 Fastest Laps Run and has run all 123 of the laps in the top 15.

Fellows, winner of last year’s Montreal race, has a Driver Rating of 121.7, an Average Running Position of 5.5, six Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 97.6.

Carpentier has a Driver Rating of 120.9, an Average Running Position of 5.2, 11 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 95.9.

Said, always a threat on a road course, has a Driver Rating of 97.7, an Average Running Position of 9.8, five Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 82.9.

So, the question is: who can dethrone the favorites. Carl Edwards is a likely candidate, but there’s no telling which Edwards will show up.  At Montreal, he had a strong finish (sixth) and a bad one (30th).

Combined at Montreal, Edwards has a Driver Rating of 89.3, an Average Running Position of 17.3 and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 55.3.

Those numbers don’t scream “favorite.” But if Edwards has another road course race like the one he did at Watkins Glen, he could wind up in Victory Lane.

In his third-place finish at Watkins Glen, Edwards had a Driver Rating of 123.7, an Average Running Position of 5.4 and led 25 laps.

NNS Etc: Montreal Edition

• In The Garage
  
  Canadians in the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend include:
  
  Patrick Carpentier (Ville Lasalle, Quebec) – #99 driver
  Jean Francios Dumoulin (Trios-Rivieres, Quebec) – #23 driver
  Ron Fellows (Toronto, Ontario) – #5 driver
  JR Fitzpatrick (Cambridge, Ontario) – #33 driver
  Daryl Harr (St. Albert, Alberta) – #31 driver
  DJ Kennington (St. Thomas, Ontario) – #61 driver
  Randy MacDonald (Oshawa, Ontario) – #81 owner
  Shaun Peet (Namaimo, BC) – #32 jackman (not in attendance this weekend)
  Andrew Ranger (Roxton Pond, Quebec) – #11 driver
  Alex Taglinani (Montreal Quebec) – #81 driver
  Jacques Villeneuve (Montreal, Quebec) – #32 driver
  
  
• A True International Event
  
  The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have drivers from four countries represented this weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
  
  The United States (33) and Canada (nine) have the majority of drivers entered, while Australia (Marcos Ambrose) and Italy (Max Papis) are each represented by one driver.
  
  Also, the first driver with a hometown listed as Puerto Rico will attempt to make his series debut.  Victor Gonzalez Jr. will drive the #05 31-W Insulation Ford for owner Wayne Day. A road-course specialist who has worked as an instructor with the Skip Barber Racing school, Gonzalez has raced in many different car types and series disciplines including Late Models.

NNS Raybestos Rookie Standings

    Driver                    Team        Points
1. Justin Allgaier          Penske      206
2. Brendan Gaughan    RWR         191
3. Michael McDowell    K-Auto       181
4. Michael Annett        Germain     160
5. Scott Lagasse Jr.    N/A            154
6. Jon Wes Townley    RAB           109
7. Erik Darnell             RFR            104
8. Ken Butler III           R3               75

• Stand-Alone Season Stands Down
  
  Sunday’s race will be the eighth of nine stand-alone events on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.
  
  Including the NAPA Auto Parts 200, seven of the series’ 13 races since June 6 at Nashville Superspeedway have been stand-alones.
  
  The final stand-alone event of the season is at Memphis Motorsports Park on Oct. 24.
  
  
• 2009 Manufacturer’s Championship Standings
  
  In the series’ brief history in Montreal, Chevy has been the most successful manufacturer, winning both races.
  
  Ford, however, arguably has been the most dominant at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, having led a total of 64 laps over the two events, all by Marcos Ambrose.
  
  Dodge has been strong at the 2.709-mile, 14-turn road course, winning both poles and leading 28 laps, second-most among the manufacturers.
  
  
• Milestones In Montreal
  
  Stephen Leicht will make his 70th career start on Sunday. He has one win, 14 top-10 and 38 top-20 finsihes in his previous 69 races.
  
  Michael McDowell (#96 ConelyAuto.com Dodge) will attempt to make his 30th series start. He’s 10th in the standings and will drive the second car for Brian Keselowski’s K-Automotive outfit. Brian Keselowski will get back in the #26 2XL-ConelyAuto.com Dodge for the first time in five races after serving as crew chief on the car for the last four events.

Up Next: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The NASCAR Nationwide Series goes under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.

Due to the 2009 schedule change with Auto Club Speedway’s previous fall date, the DegreeV12 300 will be the first series race in September at the super-fast 1.54-mile track.

Over the past four years – and for 12 of its 17 series races, the event has been run in March. Three races were run in October from 2002-04, while two were held in November.

Matt Kenseth won last year, building on Roush Fenway’s series dominance at Atlanta (five wins). Kenseth also won at Atlanta in 2004.

Only the weather stopped Kyle Busch from winning a third consecutive AMS pole – last year’s starting lineup was set per the rule book.

Some history: Jeff Gordon won the inaugural series race at Atlanta in 1992 and Shawna Robinson became the first woman to win a pole in NASCAR national series competition when she did so at Atlanta in 1994.

FAST FACTS

The Race: NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge
The Place: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2.709-mile road course)
The Date: Sunday, August 30
The Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
The Distance: 200.466 miles / 74 laps
TV: ESPN2, 2:00 p.m. ET
Radio: SIRIUS NASCAR Radio / MRN
2008 Winner: Ron Fellows
2008 Polesitter: Scott Pruett
Event Schedule (all times ET): Saturday – Practice, 9-11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.; NASCAR Road Course Qualifying, 4:40 p.m.

2009 STANDINGS

     Driver                  Points
1   Kyle Busch           3,900
2   Carl Edwards         3,652
3   Brad Keselowski    3,597
4   Jason Leffler          3,353
5   Justin Allgaier        2,843
6   Steve Wallace        2,785
7   Jason Keller           2,727
8   Mike Bliss              2,713
9   Brendan Gaughan   2,649
10 Michael McDowell   2,608