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Introducing Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, formerly known as Mosport

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Since Ron Fellows and friends bought the iconic Mosport International Raceway, there have been many changes at the track. Most of those changes have been expected and were a long time coming. Today’s news was massively unexpected!

Mosport International Raceway will now be called Canadian Tire Motorsport Park!

The track has formed a partnership with the Canadian automotive retail giant, which includes the name change. While some of the elder race fans will not be happy with the change, it seems fitting that a company with such a strong motorsports history in Canada should help usher in a new era at the track.

Fans can meet with Ron Fellows in the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park booth this weekend at the Canadian Motorsports Expo.

Read the official press release and take a lap with Gunnar Jeannette after the break.
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Canadian Tire named title sponsor for Grand-Am race at The Glen

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Since Ron Fellows and his partners purchased Mosport, there have been many rumblings, mostly positive, about the what changes would come to the track and how this would impact Canadian motorsport. The changes within the motorsport world are coming fast and hopefully indicate that the changes are going to be felt far beyond Ontario.
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Fellows and Canadian Tire Return to NNS Competition with JR Motorsports

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Team press release

Road-Course Veteran to Drive No. 5 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen and Montreal

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 5, 2011) – JR Motorsports announced today the return of two critical components to its road-course program – driver Ron Fellows and sponsor Canadian Tire. Fellows, a previous winner for JR Motorsports, will drive the No. 5 Chevrolet in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events at Watkins Glen International (Aug. 13) and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Aug. 20) with Canadian Tire as the team’s primary sponsor for both events.
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Canadian Tire rolls out some fun at today’s sponsorship announcement

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Canadian Tire announced today that they are ramping up their involvement in Canadian racing, starting with sponsorship of the upcoming Honda Indy Toronto. The are also sponsoring the Edmonton Indy and are funding a ride for Big Ron Fellows at in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

For a change, this was actually a fun press conference! While there was a bit of talk to start things off, in just a few minutes Scott Steckly had fired up his Dodge Avenger and come out of the shop in a cloud of smoke. As the red & white Dodge came front and center, the pit crew scurried out and gave a quick pit stop demo. Fun stuff, but I think the guys need some practice, as they were more than a little slow! Also on hand was the PartSource Dodge of Mark Dilley. Steckly and Dilley are both NASCAR Canadian Tire Series regulars.

Canadian Tire has been involved with Canadians in racing since the late Sixties, so the racing history runs deep. Back in the mid Eighties, Jacques Villeneuve Sr. spent a few years racing Indy cars and was fully supported by none other than Canadian Tire. It was fitting then that they dragged the Canadian tire branded 1983 March out of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for the day.
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NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on track at Mosport

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Watching a car race on television can never be compared to being there in person. Sure, the HD cameras and incredible TV technology can bring us closer than ever to the excitement, but it just doesn’t compare to the real thing. The sights, sounds, smells and even feel of real racing is unlike anything else. Even still, years of being trackside does not prepare one for shooting the start of a NASCAR race.

A couple of years ago, I shot the start of the ALMS race from the wall at the bottom of Mosport’s infamous Corner 2. Even that did not prepare me.

There are basically 2 spots that photographers stand coming down the hill into 2. There is one that is further down the hill, with some run off space in front of you and the protection of the first wall. Then, there is the first wall. It begins at the end of the debris fence and extends about 40 feet along the edge of the track. If something is going to happen, this is where they hit first. I was standing there at the start.
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NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver Joey McColm ready to thrill in 2010 season

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We’ve talked about it before: racing sponsorship involves more than just slapping some stickers on the car and showing it. Everyone is doing that, but to succeed a team has to think outside the box and really give the sponsor something special. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver Joey McColm may just have that something special for the 2010 season.

The roof is off the blue and white number 50 to install a second seat. No, this isn’t some sort of tube frame rally car in the making, rather it is a powerful race weekend marketing tool. McColm will be using the number 50 2 seater to give thrill rides to media and sponsors like Atto Insurance, Dodge and newly signed Watch It! and maybe even some fans.

The buzz and exposure this garners will be certain to garner the corporate partners television coverage as media outlets scramble to get their on screen talent rides in the race car.
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Canadian Tire Whitby Cruise

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A couple of weeks ago, while hanging out on the couch watching X-Games, I got a call from a friend who asked if I knew anything about the cruise going on at the Canadian Tire at the end of the street. Nope. Hadn’t heard a thing. I was enjoying the Ford vs Subaru battle and had no intention of leaving. Then, it occurred to me that there was going to be a least an hour of skate boarding, so I hopped in the 370Z and went for a visit. I’m glad I did.

This charity cruise was much bigger than expected and included everything from a pair of real Shelby’s to some well prepared low riders. There was a great cross section of new and old, stock to wild. Of course there were a few girls along for the show too!

Gallery after the break.
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Notice the final instruction under Inside car wash. Somehow I think that instruction would be a challenge.

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NASCAR Launches Canadian Tire Series

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A couple of years ago, NASCAR set up an office in Toronto with the mandate to evaluate the potential of a NASCAR move to Canada. The powers that be saw the importance of the Canadian market, along with our rich racing history. Rumours have been circulating over the possible venue for a NASCAR race of some sort. Will it be Montreal, Toronto, Cayuga or maybe even Mosport. It seems the initial direction is somewhat different than many people expected.

At a press conference in downtown Toronto’s Dundas Square this morning, the news of a revamped series for Canada were made public. Hosted by TSN’s Vic Rauter, officials from NASCAR and Canadian Tire announced that NASCAR has taken over the CASCAR stock car series. For 2007, the new series will be called the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series with a schedule that will include 10-12 races. Along with the title sponsorship, Canadian Tire becomes the official automotive retailer of NASCAR in Canada.
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