MONTREAL - Nascar weekend is upon Montreal and fans of the mean motors have been clambering to meet their idols, which include some high-profiled locals motoring at the weekend's NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
“It’s breathtaking for me, as a fan, to meet a superstar like Jacques Villeneuve, unbelievable,” said David Hughes of Pennsylvania.
Hughes motored up eight hours to Montreal just to attend the event.
“I’m pumped up,” he said. “I actually couldn’t sleep for about a week. I skipped a week of work to come to this and it paid out for me right now.”
Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Patrick Carpentier and Danika Patrick are among the other marquee names in the race which has its share of unbridled devotees.
“It’s exciting, I can hear the cars and it's really amazing to be here and the weather is agreeing with us so why not?” said one fan to CTV Montreal.
“I got goosebumps the minute I came in here, hearing the cars roar, I have them right now. I mean it’s unbelievable,” said another.
“I just love the racing I don’t' know how to describe it,” said Ryan Chartier. “I’m not sure.”
And while it’s fun for the fans, it’s no walk in the park for racers.
“The pressure is there and obviously when you know that there's a lot of fans rooting for you, then you think about it even more,” said driver Jacques Villeneuve.
Nonetheless the drivers don’t appear to have any special ritual prior to the race.
“The only thing I do different tonight, I’m going to cut off the wine, no wine, laughed racer Patrick Carpentier.
