[media-credit name=”TurnerMotorsports” align=”alignright” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]MONTREAL, Canada (July 25, 2012) – Turner Motorsports will field the No. 30 Chevrolet with driver Alex Tagliani for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 18, 2012. Tagliani, a hometown favorite in Montreal, will compete on the circuit he knows well after narrowly finishing second in an epic battle to the finish during last year’s event. He hopes to better that result in 2012.
“I’m always proud to come back to Montreal and to be able to race on this fantastic road course named after one of my all-time racing heroes, Gilles Villeneuve,” said Tagliani. “I really wanted to race here again, so when the opportunity presented itself with Turner Motorsports and we were no longer scheduled to be overseas, I was pretty excited. In Formula Atlantic, I won here from the pole and also had a pole in Indy Car. Montreal has been good to me to date and I’m hoping to better my race history here. Having a competitive car to challenge for the win is all I can wish for.”
“Last year’s race was a great experience and it was amazing to qualify on the front row and finish the race second. This year is really cool because I met Trent Owens (crew chief of the No. 30 entry for Turner Motorsports) in Kershaw and he was really helpful, answering all my questions even though, at that time, he was working with his own team. It’s ironic that we are going to work together a few short years later. He’s an amazing guy, so I’m excited. I’m honored to drive for Turner Motorsports. This is a passionate group of individuals that make up an awesome team. From Steve (Turner) to all the mechanics, I’m looking forward to meeting everyone at the shop.”
Owens is looking forward to the opportunity to work with Tagliani in the upcoming event.
“We are looking forward to working with Tag. Looking at what he is capable of doing in Indy Car with a new team with a one-car operation for the last two street course-qualifying sessions says it all. But last year is what impressed me. He missed the pole by just a little bit, and then ran a mistake-free race. Racing in the open wheel circuits makes him drive with a lot of respect on the track and that’s important.”
Montreal-native Tagliani has raced across the country throughout his career.
“I feel like I’m covering Canada well this season, with two races in Indy Car (Toronto and Edmonton) and the Nationwide race in Montreal now,” added Tagliani. “My sponsors are excited to spend the week in this beautiful city.”
Steve Turner, owner of Turner Motorsports, feels Tagliani’s road course experience will be an added advantage to his entire organization.
“Our team is looking forward to working with Tag. The type of experience he can bring to our organization and road course program is invaluable and will be a big advantage for us. We have one road course win under our belt already this season after Nelson Piquet Jr.’s win at Road America, and we fully expect to be able to bring home another with Alex in Montreal.”
Francois Dumontier, President and CEO of Octane Management, the promoter of the event, is thrilled to have Tagliani’s presence at the upcoming event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
“We are glad to confirm with Turner Motorsports the presence of Alex at our upcoming NAPA Auto Parts 200, presented by Dodge. With the excellent finish he recorded in Montreal last year and the very good car he will be driving this year, he must be considered as a serious contender for the win”, said Dumontier. “Alex is a determined man and a driver with a true passion for auto racing. All his efforts on-track and off-track with fans and sponsors have not always been rewarded as they should have. We wish him to encounter a success he largely deserves, during the weekend of August 16, 17 & 18,” added Dumontier.
About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, has completed its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas businessman Steve Turner, the organization expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Great Clips, BRANDT, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles ABF Freight, Qualcomm, Duroline Brakes, and Koike Aronson Ransome. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.
