Trois-Rivières, QC – The 2026 NASCAR Canada Series season will kick off this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport). It will be the first of 11 events, for a total of 14 races, that make up what promises to be an extremely competitive season at the front of the field, with the return of top contenders and drivers who’ve headlined recent seasons.
Among those favourites is three-time series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. Once again behind-the-wheel of the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Groupe Bellemare/Omnifab car, Dumoulin approaches this new season — his 15th full-time campaign in the series — with confidence. The work carried out during the offseason by the entire Dumoulin Compétition technical team has been intense, and the driver feels ready.
“It may sound repetitive because every offseason we work hard to improve and bring the most competitive car possible to the track, but this time I would say we were able to identify certain small issues that affected us last season and make the necessary corrections,” said Dumoulin.
The driver and his team tested their road course car at Complexe ICAR last week in preparation for the season opener. The session confirmed the quality of the work completed in the Dumoulin Compétition workshops over the winter, particularly regarding the engine program. However, while the entire No. 47 team has thoroughly prepared for the 2026 season, one uncertainty remains: the behavior of the new McCreary tires, manufactured by American Racer, which will be used by all NASCAR Canada competitors this year.
“Everyone is in the same situation,” explained Dumoulin. “We’ll discover how they behave during the two additional practice sessions scheduled this Friday at Mosport, and we’ll see at that point. Throughout my career, I’ve gained experience adapting quickly to many types of cars and tires. I think we’ll be able to understand these tires very quickly and get the most out of them.”
Once again this year, the NASCAR Canada Series will kick off its season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, one of the most iconic and historic venues in Canadian motorsport, and a racetrack where the driver of the No. 47 car has earned numerous victories in both open-wheel racing and NASCAR competition.
“This track is special. I love starting the season there,” concluded Dumoulin. “The Victoria Day Weekend SpeedFest always has a fantastic atmosphere, with thousands of fans coming to watch our season-opening race on Sunday afternoon. I’m looking forward to being back on track there.”
Dumoulin has recorded 11 victories, 86 Top-five finishes, and 131 Top-10 finishes in 178 NASCAR Canada starts to date.
NASCAR drivers will hit the track beginning Friday with two practice sessions from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and from 5:35 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. On Saturday, following another practice session from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., qualifying will determine the starting grid from 5:35 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. The first race of the season is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, starting at 2:00 p.m.
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