The last time a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)
event ran on the 4.048-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. was in
2001 but now, nine years later, NASCAR will return to the Road America track.
Not wanting to disappoint The Badger State fans after the cancelation
of The Milwaukee Mile oval event, NASCAR decided to keep a race in the
state of Wisconsin by giving the Nationwide Series (NNS) drivers a new
challenge.
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Front Straight. Photo by Richard Sloop.
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"We're excited to be staying in Wisconsin and racing in front of the
passionate fans there at a historic venue that's new to our NASCAR
Nationwide Series," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's vice president of
racing operations in today's media press release.
With its elevation changes and tricky corners plus the unique front
straight that starts out of Turn 14 with a steep uphill climb and the
famous Carousel, a long-210 degree sweeper to the right, Road America
will definitely hold true to its reputation of excitement to those who
attend the return of NASCAR to the cheese state.
"The NASCAR Nationwide Series is an exciting addition to our diverse
2010 schedule. The spectator experience at Road America is like none
other and we expect both our loyal and new fans to enjoy watching their
American race heroes tackle our challenging natural road course," said
Road America president and GM, George Bruggenthies.
Paul Menard was the winner of the then named NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge
Series (formed in 1998) which was one of four touring series sanctioned
by NASCAR to give up and coming drivers a chance to move up the ladder.
Menard indeed did move up and now races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
(NSCS).
"It's a really great race track," Menard said. "It's in a very
picturesque setting in the Wisconsin countryside. It has every kind of
corner you can imagine. When I was a kid, my dad would take me to Road
America. The fans love it there."
The first time a NASCAR-sanctioned race was held on the historic circuit was
back in the early days and at the time Road America was only a year old. On
August 12, 1956, the then-top level of the NASCAR national tier (now known
as NSCS) event was won by Tim Flock.
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The green flag waves for the first NASCAR race run at Road America: Tim Flock won the race. Photo by Road America Archives.
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Keeping with the June tradition of racing in the Midwest state, the NNS
drivers will contest the road course on June 19, 2010. They will of
course have additional practice starting on Thursday before qualifying
for Saturday's race.
Menard already plans to race at his home venue. "By the second practice,
I'm sure everyone will be up to speed because the drivers are so good in
the NASCAR Nationwide Series," said Menard. "Braking will be the hardest
aspect. Strategy will play a big part in this race. I'm really excited
about running there."
It is not the first time the Nationwide teams and drivers will take on
three road courses in a single season. The ran in Montreal (Canada),
Watkins Glen (New York, USA) and Mexico City (Mexico) on their 2007 and
'08 schedule. With the addition of Road America, they now will have two
permanent road courses and one temporary circuit to contest.
NNS' director Joe Balash commented: "Road America is a very unique track
that will provide great racing and will test driver skill and ability on
what is a very large course. And yes, we'll be prepared to race in the
rain if necessary."
The first rain race for the NNS was in 2008 at Montreal and while
Goodyear did bring grooved tires back into NASCAR, the amount of the wet
weather and the "new" windshield wipers did cause havoc but still they
did take a stand with running on a non-oval in the wet. They did have
better luck this year when again it rained in Montreal.
It will be an interesting race, come rain or shine.
In one way, the fact that on the same day, the Sports Car Club of
America announced that the revived in 2009 Trans-Am Series will join
NASCAR in June at a track the SCCA drivers know very well, could prove
to be a source of reference to the Nationwide drivers.
It would not be a surprised either to see the road course specialist,
many who competed in the Trans-Am series, be selected to compete for the
NNS teams. Those with the experience in a stock car on a road/street
circuit include Boris Said and Scott Pruett.
