When the lights went out in Mississauga Saturday night – it was one of those power failures that catch your attention; you look out the window and there isn’t a light on for miles – I fired up my laptop and rocket stick to find out what was going on and, after learning it wasn’t the end of the world, I called up the American Le Mans Series website and watched the last laps of the Petit Le Mans.
The big news of the weekend – other than the race results; Peugeot beat Audi, end of story – is that the 2012 schedule issued on Friday includes the traditional mid-summer stop at Mosport but the very, very interesting thing is that the race is scheduled for Sat., July 21, instead of the traditional (there’s that word again) Sunday.
So the question today is: what series is going to be in action at Mosport on Sunday, July 22, 2012? I guarantee you that there will be something big happening out there.
I make these suggestions purely as guesses. I have not talked to anyone officially, or even off the record.
– It’s possible there could be a NASCAR Nationwide Series race or a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Neither schedule has been published. The Sprint Cup Series is off that weekend, which means one or more Sprint Cup drivers (like Dale Earnhardt Jr.) could perhaps make an appearance to help out their friend, and good soldier, Ron Fellows on his first big promotion.
– The Grand Am Rolex Series could race there – although I doubt the ALMS would want to play "second fiddle" to the Grand Am.
– The IZOD IndyCar Series frequently twins with the ALMS. They were together this year for double-headers at Long Beach and Road America, the ALMS on Saturday and the Indy cars on Sunday.
Yes, I know, the IndyCar Series races in downtown Toronto every July. But that race has been in trouble for years, never mind the last several. One way to revive the interest, and the attendance, would be for the Toronto promoters, Savoree-Green, to co-promote a race at Mosport with Fellows and his group.
The Indycar schedule has not been released. This could be one of the surprises when it comes out at Las Vegas in two weeks.
Who knows?
I can tell you this: When Canada’s longest, continuously operating, legendary road racing circuit changed hands last June, co-owner Fellows said this: "Mosport is a big-event race track and is open for business."
The ALMS has been the big event of the summer at the storied circuit north of Bowmanville for years. I suggest one way or another that it will have company, starting in 2012.
Norris, The Nationwide series will be in Chicago on July 22nd per Jayski....
Posted by: Scott | 10/03/2011 at 08:53 AM