Canada deserves more big-time races

The official start of the 2012 motorsports season in Canada is just over a month away with the Victoria Day Speedfest at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.mSo maybe it’s time to start lobbying the major sanctioning bodies for more events up here in the Great White North.

Canada has already proven over time that it can support big-time racing.

The Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is of the most anticipated races in the Formula One world championship and the NASCAR Nationwide NAPA 200 at the same track is also a winner among race fans.

Both the Honda Indy of Toronto and the Edmonton Indy are regarded as among the best street races on the IZOD IndyCar calendar.

In fact last season’s Toronto race was the highest rated IndyCar race on TV other than the Indianapolis 500.

With these successes both IndyCar and NASCAR should be thinking of adding more events north of the 49th parallel.

A second Nationwide race or a NASCAR Camping World Truck race at CTMP (formerly Mosport) would be a nice fit as would a third IndyCar race, say in Vancouver or Calgary. slam.canoe.ca