Nelson Canache jumps from Grand-Am to ARCA, sets sights on Series championship
MOBILE, Ala. - While the Dos Equis man claims it, Nelson Canache is truly the most interesting man in the world - in the racing world, at least.
Canache is a 15-year veteran of international road racing, including stops in Grand-Am where he most recently placed 44th (31st GT) in the 24 Hours of Daytona for APR Audi Racing, with teammates Ian Baas, Emanuele Pirro, Jim Norman and Dion von Moltke.
Not one to rest comfortably on the familiar, the Venezuelan has been lured to stock cars, beginning in the ultra-competitive ARCA Racing Series. It’s also an opportunity for the 34-year old to extend his career and follow in the footsteps of fellow foreign road racing aces like Juan Pablo Montoya and Nelson Piquet Jr.
“The shelf life of an open-wheel and sports car driver doesn’t last very long,” Canache explained. “Drivers are phased out by their mid-30s and I’m not ready to stop doing this.”
Canache will drive full-time for Venturini Motorsports in 2012; competing in all 20 events listed on the ARCA schedule.
Canache chose ARCA because he believes it represents his best oppurtunity to eventually make the jump to the NASCAR’s Camping World Trucks and Nationwide Series. Venturini’s ARCA success made the tandem a perfect marriage.
“The team has a great history with developing young drivers,” Canache said. “In this style of racing, I’m very much a rookie too. They have a winning reputation and the success they’ve had working with their drivers was a major factor in my decision to join the team.”
Unlike the Venezuela racing scene, which is dominated by winding road and street courses, ARCA is littered with ovals a mile in length or shorter. That includes this Saturday’s ARCA-Mobile 200 at Mobile International Speedway, a high-banked, half-mile speedway.
Despite the vast differences between his two styles of racing, Canache thinks that his skills will eventually translate to short track racing.
“Instead of 15 or 16 different turns at changing elevations, there’s only two turns now,” Canache said. “And short track racing is very similar to road racing in that it’s about finding the right entry point and having a car that can roll the apex.”
Canache made his Series debut at last month’s season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway. He finished the wild-race in fourth-place before ARCA officials determined that Canache improved his position by passing below the yellow line.
Several of the leaders ran out of fuel coming to the start finish line at the end of that race and Canache dipped to the apron to avoid slamming into one of the coasting race cars. Nine-time ARCA Series champion, Frank Kimmel, was also penalized.
The drivers were told during the drivers meeting that they could use the apron and pit road to avoid in an impending accident and that’s exactly what Canache and Kimmel reasoned.
Canache did not learn of the penalty until he exited the car during postrace and was informed by team owner Billy Venturini. After the disappointment and frustration faded, Venturini pleaded his case to ARCA officials and was told that a car running out of gas ahead of a driver is different situation than going below the yellow line to avoid a wreck.
Not every driver agreed with the decision to penalize Canache and Kimmel.
“I’m not sure I agreed with ARCA’s decision,” Team BCR’s Buster Graham (17th at Daytona) said. “I’m not sure what they expect us to do. It’s either jump below the line to avoid slowing cars or slam into the back of them - and unlike a Danica Patrick, we don’t have a back-up car.”
Similar accidents in the Truck and Nationwide Series saw NASCAR allow teams to pass below the yellow line.
Despite mixed results at Daytona, Venturini is looking forward to the rest of the season and expects to great things to come out of Canache’s program.
“There’s no question ARCA and NASCAR has attracted world class talent to our sport. Nelson has proven himself as an international driver and comes to our team with tremendous talent and determination to succeed at this level in a relatively unknown series. He’s a true professional and student of his craft; he’s eager to learn and unwilling to fall back on past accomplishments,” Venturini said. “I expect him to fit into our program well and compete strongly against his competition.”
Practice will begin at 1:30 p.m. Central on Friday, March 9, and will last for three and a half hours. Qualifying will follow, starting at 7 p.m. The 200-lap, 100-mile Mobile ARCA 200 will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.
NASCAR Ranting and Raving content editor Matt Weaver will be live on-site at Mobile International Speedway and will post live updates to Twitter @MattWeaverSBN.
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