Jacques Villeneuve to drive in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (EN04)

News Announcement


For Immediate Release


Round 4 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Saint-Eustache, Saturday, July 11


JACQUES VILLENEUVE TO TEAM WITH ANDREW RANGER AND JON BOUVRETTE


Saint-Eustache, July 9, 2009 - Alan Labrosse, 
owner of Autodrome St-Eustache and promoter of 
the Tide 250, is pleased to announce that racecar 
superstar Jacques Villeneuve has agreed to 
team-up with Andrew Ranger and Jonathan Bouvrette 
for the Tide 250, Round 4 of the NASCAR Canadian 
Tire Series to be held Saturday July 11 in 
Saint-Eustache.


During a press conference Thursday at the VIP 
Room of the Autodrome, Jacques Villeneuve was 
introduced to the media as the new teammate of 
Andrew Ranger and Jonathan Bouvrette.


Following an agreement with Dave Jacombs, owner 
of Jacombs Racing in Hamilton, Ontario, and Tide 
and Walmart, sponsors for the race team, these 
three champions will drive similar Ford Fusions 
for the 250-lap race event. For Alan Labrosse, 
uniting these three drivers in one team for a 
race that he is promoting is a dream come true.


"Ever since I have bought this track, I have been 
planning new ideas, working on new projects in 
order to offer Quebec stock-car fans novel 
schemes," said Alan Labrosse. "It will be the 
case this Saturday night, July 11 as three class 
champions will be teammates in a dream team, 
driving similar cars. As owner and promoter of an 
event, it is hard to ask for a better outcome. It 
should produce a very good show for the crowd."


For the experienced Villeneuve, this will be 
uncharted territory: He will drive a new kind of 
racecar, in an unknown series, and on a very 
short track. "When Alan Labrosse called to offer 
this ride, I actually did not know what to 
expect, but it was an experience I was willing to 
explore," said Villeneuve. "I had no idea how the 
cars would handle, but I was pleasantly surprised 
when I did some private testing back in May. I 
was immediately enthused. I was surprised how 
well it handled, and on the power response of the 
engine. I was told that it is a very competitive 
series, that the drivers are quite experienced. I 
was also told that I should expect some hard 
knocks."


As for Andrew Ranger, he will live a long-time 
dream of his. "I will be racing with a hero of 
mine," said Ranger who sits in second place in 
the driver standings, eight points behind leader 
Ron Beauchamp. "Ever since I was a youth, I have 
been dreaming about this occasion. It thrills me 
to work with a driver that I admire. He will be 
driving a very competitive car, and even though 
he will be part of the team, he will also be 
another competitor to look out for."



The third member of the Jacombs Racing Team is 
Jonathan Bouvrette, who leads the new NASCAR 
Ippersiel Sportsman Series at the Autodrome, and 
winner of last year's NASCAR Whelen Quebec Weekly 
Series. The Saint-Jérome resident will also be 
living a unique day at the Autodrome. He won the 
opportunity to race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire 
Series race as a bonus for winning the 2008 
St-Eustache Championship.


"I can hardly wait to be on track with Andrew and 
Jacques," said the 29-year old. "I saw the race 
here last May, and it was very competitive. The 
action should be more fierce this Saturday 
because there will be more cars on the track. 
Several drivers did not show up for the season 
opener, but the field has increased ever since. I 
don't have any specific goals in mind, but I 
would like to complete the race on the lead lap, 
if it is possible. I will try very hard to 
achieve that goal."


With the return of Andrew Ranger, the signing of 
Jacques Villeneuve for the race, and the Canadian 
Tire Series debut of local hero Jonathan 
Bouvrette, tickets are disappearing very quickly. 
Fans can still buy some reserved seats for the 
July 11 Tide 250 by calling the ticket office at 
(514) 591-4388 or by ordering online anytime at: 
www.billetsnascar.com.


- End -


Contact:
Autodrome St-Eustache
(514) 591-4388



Group photo -
Photo taken during Thursday's July 9, 2009 Press 
Conference held at Autodrome St-Eustache, Quebec. 
From left to right: driver Andrew Ranger next to 
Dany Painchaud, Walmart Director of Operations, 
Alan Labrosse, promoter of the Tide 250, drivers 
Jacques Villeneuve, and Jonathan Bouvrette on the 
right.
PHOTO: Flagworld.com


Photo On track action -
Jacques Villeneuve, driving the No 7 Tide / 
Walmart Ford Fusion, is next to teammate Jonathan 
Bouvrette's No. 41 Ford Fusion during a test 
demonstration following Thursday's Press 
Conference at Autodrome St-Eustache, Quebec.
PHOTO: Toby Légaré for Autodrome St-Eustache


The photos are a courtesy of Toby Légaré for 
Autodrome St-Eustache, and Flagworld.com, and are 
copyright-free for the media.