In February, big news was announced surrounding the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series when Alex Tagliani announced that he will be running the majority of the 2014 schedule in the No. 18 EpiPen/Pfizer Canada Dodge.
“I’m looking forward to being on track driving the car and obviously, bringing this message across as much as we can and making it a success for the 2014 season and trying to win while achieving as many podiums as we can throughout the year in all the series that I am going to be able to run this year,” Tagliani commented last week.
Tagliani does have stock car experince on the road/street courses in both the Nationwide Series and Canadian Tire Series, with a couple wins to his credit. However, tackling the majority of this year’s schedule, he will be introduced to some of the tight ovals that the tour races on.
While there’s expectations of podium finishes on the road courses, Tagliani says he isn’t putting too many expectations for the ovals due to lack of experience, however wants to try and not scratch the car.
“Short track racing is tough as there’s a lot of people there and a lot of people with experience,” Tagliani commented. “I think the series is getting more and more competitive. I’m always going there to do well and to promote the series and to promote the sport and the sponsors that are involved in what I’m doing. I want to have that success because the support means a lot to me from the sponsors so you want to do a good job for them. If I succeed that, then I’m doing good.
“The success on track, at the short ovals will come from getting experience, understanding the car, knowing what it wants, how you need to drive it, the way the tires are falling off and things like that. it’s a sport that you need equipment – the best car, the best pit stops – you need everything around you to maximize what you can do as a driver. it’s a small element – the success on the track.”
Tagliani says that his goal first and foremost is to promote the sponsors, and then take the on-track performance step-by-step in trying to learn what he needs to be successful with experience and learning from others.
From the people that Tagliani will possibly look for advice from is Scott Steckly. Tagliani and his group at Tagliani Autosport will focus on the promotional side, while having Steckly and his team 22 Racing prepare and manage the the racing side of the deal. Steckly won the championship last year and is a three-time series champion.
“I think his input on those types of tracks is tremendous, really valuable and he knows that I can learn so working with him has been really good so far,” Tagliani said. “It’s been a pleasure. I like his approach and his professionalism so the way we’re working right now as a team is really nice. My goal is to make sure we do a good job for Tagliani Autosport/22 Racing.
“It’s an investment to put in by myself and other drivers that we want to promote and its an investment from his part with the team to try and do the best job on track. hopefully commercially track performance will be able to blend together for a long time and excite the fans with new additions and new things that we’re bringing to the track.”
Tagliani noted that they will be bringing pit stop challenges and a two-seater car out to different events to get the fans more involved.
“We’re excited about this whole upcoming season because we have a much bigger connection with our Canadian fans,” Tagliani added. “The series is Canadian based so we’re definitely jumping head first into this concept. Partnering with Scott on the technical side made our job easier to fully focus on the commercial side and the promotional activities with our sponsors to get the result we need and to continue.”
Outside of competing on track, Tagliani will be raising awareness about food allergies in Canada and getting people to carry their EpiPen with them as approximately 2.5 million Canadians have at least one food allergy that effects them.
Earlier this month, Tagliani kicked off his ‘Summer of TAG’ campaign for the second straight year. Taglani has teamed up with Anaphylaxis Canada (a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping those at risk of anaphylaxis and those who care for them) to help spread the message to kids and teens across Canada. Tagliani is doing the ‘helmet design contest’ as well as a ‘racecar’ design contest. The winning students in each contest will receive tickets to a local race, while the winning helmet design is auctioned off at season’s end with proceeds going to Anaphylaxis Canada.
“Everything has been really exciting from the get go,” Tagliani said. “From the sponsor and the association to what we’re trying to do and the campaign – it seems like I’ve had a full year of work under my belt and we haven’t even turned a lap yet. There’s a lot of elements part of this program that are exciting so I’m looking forward it.”
Well the original plan was for Tagliani to run the full schedule, he will be missing the opening event as a result of Indianapolis 500 qualifying being the same weekend. Tagliani will be looking to compete in the 98th annual Indianapolis 500 in a car prepared by Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing as a teammate to Josef Newgarden.
Tagliani says his car will still be at the season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in May with a young driver behind the wheel as there is an announcement forthcoming in the next couple of weeks.
“We’re trying to help and promote a young driver that wants to race in NASCAR Canadian full-time and he’s working with some sponsors that he’s going to try and bring in 2015,” Tagliani commented. “So hopefully it’ll help kickstart his gig. As a team, to be able to do that and bring on someone and give them a chance, it’s really important and we feel very proud of being able to do that. I didn’t have that sort of chance when I started, but I think the plan is to use the popularity and attention that we can bring on-board and help as much as we can with our means and what we’re capable of doing.”
