Bonjour, Montreal

It’s on to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the final road-course race of the season and the second-to-last stand-alone event of the year for the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Sunday’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 is one of the most anticipated races of the series season for obvious reasons: Exciting racing on the historic 14-turn, 2.710-mile track on the unique, man-made Ile Notre-Dame, the tremendous fan turnout, the European feel of the Montreal and what the series has become famous for – racing in the rain.

Rain has been the headliner during the last two races there. The 2008 race was the first points race in NASCAR national series history in the rain. Last year, teams learned the nuances of preparing for and competing in the rain, then getting back to dry-condition racing during the same event.

The racing has been some of the best – and most bizarre – in each of the last three seasons. Kevin Harvick won the inaugural event in 2007, one in which Robby Gordon – who’s back this year for the first time since that event – thought he had won after he and Marcos Ambrose took turns spinning each other on the final lap. In 2008, Canadian Ron Fellows won the first “rain race.” Last year, Carl Edwards spoiled a dominating run by Ambrose, passing him on the final turn of the last lap to win. Ambrose has vowed to “Run this thing until I win it.” He’s led 124 of 199 total laps over the three races at Montreal but has yet to win.

This also is the road-course rubber match between Edwards and Ambrose this year. Both posted perfect 150.0 Driver Ratings in the previous two road courses this year – Edwards in his win at Road America and Ambrose with his victory at Watkins Glen.