Full Throttle

I expected a few articles in the aftermath of the (near) confirmation of NASCAR moving a Busch Series date into Canada. And there have been a few, mostly just stating the facts of the case and not much more.

I’ll preface this by saying the art of speculation generally requires some basis in fact or a reasonable expectation of the offered scenario to sound possible. On the other hand some speculation is so far out of the realm of possibility you just have to go… Huh!

Such is the case of Dean McNulty of the Ottawa Sun. (it should be noted McNulty has been out front with his Toronto Sun reports on the NASCAR move into Canada) He steps out on a very thin limb with who he believes would be available to put a “Canadian face” behind the wheel of a Busch race car next year.

And it so happens that one of Quebec’s most popular drivers - Patrick Carpentier - will make some personal appearances starting tomorrow in Montreal during the F1 weekend.

Carpentier has raced in a couple of A1[GP] events this season, but hasn’t had a steady ride since Red Bull abandoned the Eddie Cheever Indy Racing League outfit at the end of the 2005 season.

It might be just coincidence, but Red Bull is expected to have at least one team in the Busch Series in 2007 under the guidance of Marty Gaunt.

And Gaunt just happens to be a Canadian, who grew up in Toronto.

The Red Bull team will be fielding Toyotas, the Japanese auto giant that supported Carpentier when he left the Champ Car World Series.

Another prospect for NASCAR when it lands in Montreal is Alex Tagliani. He grew up in the Montreal suburbs and might consider a move to NASCAR if his Champ Car season continues down its frustrating path.

Tagliani is just too talented a driver to have to deal with the limited budgets that keep him from showing his real abilities in Champ Car.

Hope McNulty is wearing a parachute. It’s quite a fall from the height of that speculation. I mean really! If you want to climb out on a Red Bull limb might as well do some real dare-devil work. Red Bull sponsors Kirby Chambliss, while not Canadian, he’s about 3 times as fast as any other “driver” they support. And is leading the points standings!

Not that Carpentier and Tagliani aren’t capable drivers but I don’t see Red Bull climbing out on the same limb the writer has. If the formula for bringing fans into Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for a Busch event is a “Canadian face” there are more likely candidates than two with no time behind the wheel of a stock car.

At the head of the list should be part-time Cup driver (and full-time road race ringer) Ron Fellows. Next getting the call would be Canadian Pete Shepherd who is signed to a Roush Racing development contract and is running in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this year. Shepherd is also highly rated by David Smith Motorsports receiving 4 of 5 possible stars.

Want a Canadian driver with both stock car and road course credentials? Look no further than CASCAR regular Kerry Micks who just won the CASCAR Super Series stop at the Mosport International Raceway. In fact, take your pick of any in the top ten of that event.

They would all be better choices than Tagliani and Carpentier. But that’s just me, to hell with the name recognition game they offer. I have little doubt Canadian fans would rather see results than some “name” trailing the field.

And the image, I thought you’d never ask. While attending next year’s Busch event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve have a Steelback Beer, or six, on me. I suggest Steelback Thunder, at 8% alcohol content it’s just the thing to get you charged up and ready to cheer for a Ron Fellows win.

CASCAR, NASCAR, Buseies, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle