NASCAR Corona Series
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| NASCAR Corona Series | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | Auto racing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| No. of teams | 35 |
| Country(ies) |  Mexico |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Rafael Martínez |
| Official website | www.nascarmexico.com |
The NASCAR Corona Series (formerly NASCAR Mexico Corona Series) is a NASCAR series in Mexico. It is the most important stock car racing series in the country.
Contents |
[edit] Origins (Desafío Corona)
The Desafío Corona was established in 2004 by NASCAR Mexico, a joint-venture between NASCAR and Mexican entertainment group OCESA, with the idea of developing stock car racing in Mexico, and fueling a transition from the country’s historically open-wheel racing fan base to stock car racing.
From 2004 to 2006, the Desafío Corona grew considerably in infrastructure, as well as in number of fans, drivers and sponsors.
[edit] Present
The NASCAR Mexico Corona Series was officially presented at the 2006 Desafío Corona award ceremony. Starting in 2007, NASCAR is the sanctioning body of the series.
The series is one of two NASCAR-sanctioned international series, the other one being the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Following North American short-track racing trends to cut costs and unify rules among different tours, NASCAR is considering changes to the Canadian Tire and Corona Series where the two series adopt the Grand National rules as to allow the competitors to use the same cars in NASCAR Grand National Division races.
The winner of the Corona Series receives an invitation to the Toyota All-Star Showdown. All other drivers may also attempt to qualify by entering the heat races.
[edit] 2007 Schedule
The series kicked off the 2007 season at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, with a non-points-paying race during the weekend of March 4, along with events from the Busch Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The race was won by Carlos Pardo (#14 Citizen/Familly Dollar Dodge), followed by Rafael Martinez (#19 Canel's/Scotiabank Ford) and Freddy Tame (#18 Canel's/Scotiabank Ford).
The schedule will consist of 14 points-paying races after the Mexico City race, 10 of which will be double-feature events with the NASCAR Mexico T4 Series.
| Date | City | Track | Race name | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 4 | Mexico City |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Road course) ** | NASCAR Mexico Corona Series Shootout | Carlos Pardo |
|
| April 1 | Puebla |
Autódromo Miguel E. Abed (Oval) | Goodyear 150 | Rafael Martínez |
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| April 22 | Zacatecas |
Autódromo Internacional de Zacatecas (Road course) | Gran Premio Zacatecas | Rafael Martínez |
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| May 6 | Monterrey |
Autódromo de Monterrey (Road course) | Gran Premio Monterrey | Rafael Martínez |
|
| May 20 | San Luis Potosí |
Autódromo Potosino (Oval) | Gran Premio San Luis | Rafael Martínez |
|
| June 3 | Mexico City |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Oval) | Mopar 100 | German Quiroga |
|
| June 24 | Zacatecas |
Autódromo Internacional de Zacatecas (Road course) | Gran Premio Zacatecas | Rafael Martínez |
|
| July 15 | Querétaro |
Autódromo de Querétaro (Oval) | Goodyear 150 | Freddy Tame |
|
| July 29 | Guadalajara |
Trióvalo Bernardo Obregón (Tri-oval) | Gran Premio Guadalajara | Jorge Goeters |
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| August 12 | San Luis Potosí |
Autódromo Potosino (Oval) | Gran Premio San Luis | Rafael Martinez |
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| September 2 | Monterrey |
Autódromo de Monterrey (Road course) | Gran Premio Monterrey | Antonio Pérez |
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| September 23 | Puebla |
Autódromo Miguel E. Abed (Oval) | Gran Premio Puebla | Germán Quiroga |
|
| October 14 | Guadalajara |
Trióvalo Bernardo Obregón (Tri-oval) | Goodyear 150 | Germán Quiroga |
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| October 19-20 |  Irwindale, California |
Irwindale Speedway (Oval) | Toyota All-Star Showdown** | Joey Logano |
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| October 28 | Querétaro |
Autódromo de Querétaro (Oval) | Gran Premio Querétaro | Rafael Martínez |
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| November 4 | Mexico City |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Oval) | Ford Racing Lap | German Quiroga |
** Exhibition race
[edit] All-Star Showdown
NASCAR Corona Series drivers were invited to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Points leader Rafael Martínez did not participate despite having a guaranteed starting spot.
Only Antonio Pérez participated in the Showdown, barely making it into the feature race after earning the final starting spot by finishing 6th in the "Last Chance" qualifier. Pérez started 40th and finished 31st after losing several laps following an early wreck.
2006 Corona Series champion Rogelio López, currently racing in the Busch East Series, also participated in the Showdown and finished a respectable 13th.
[edit] Past Champions (Desafio Corona Series)
- 2006: Rogelio Lopez
- 2005: Jorge Goeters
- 2004: Carlos Pardo
[edit] References
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