UPDATED: Montreal Off 2013 Nationwide Schedule

Montreal promoter Francois Dumontier

After six highly successful seasons of competition north of the border, the NASCAR Nationwide Series will not return to Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next year.

NASCAR and event organizer Francois Dumontier have been unable to come to terms on the 2013 edition of the race, and there are conflicting reports today as to the reason why. Initial reports said NASCAR wanted to move the existing Nationwide race to Saturday morning, in an effort to avoid conflicts with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event held at Michigan International Speedway that same day.  

Now sources say Dumontier may have given the sanctioning body an all-or-nothing ultimatum this week, insisting on a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in 2013. When NASCAR declined, Dumontier reportedly agreed to renew his NASCAR Nationwide Series contract, but only if the event ran at 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

NASCAR declined, and broke off talks with Dumontier.

In a related story, Dumontier's Octane Management Group, which promoted the F1 Canadian Grand Prix  at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and an IZOD IndyCar Series event in Edmonton, Alberta, recently filed for bankruptcy, listing debts of more than $5 million.
 

Sources say the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course could replace Montreal on the 2013 Nationwide schedule.

 

Photo: Gallo Images