The NASCAR Canada Series enters the 2026 season with a refined structure, introducing a closely aligned tandem within its Competition Management team.
Earlier this year, Steve Salvas was appointed Series and Competition Director, while Dave Jacombs was named Assistant Series Director. Working in tandem, the two bring complementary experience and a shared objective of strengthening the overall efficiency of the series. Under this structure, Salvas will oversee race control during event weekends, focusing on competition and race execution, while Jacombs will support broader series operations.
Complementary Backgrounds
Salvas arrives with decades of experience as series director. He began his motorsport career at just 19-years-old as a chief flagman at the historic Moody Mile in Syracuse, NY. From 2005 to 2023, he served as race director at several Quebec tracks, including Autodrome Drummondville, RPM Speedway and Autodrome Granby.
His familiarity with NASCAR Canada was further developed through his role directing Défi Urbain at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, where he worked closely with the series. That experience shifted his perspective. Although primarily involved on the operational side, Salvas considers himself “a racer at heart,” drawing on over 30 years of experience in remote-controlled car competition.
Jacombs, meanwhile, brings a deeply rooted perspective from inside the garage. A former driver and team owner, he began racing as a teenager at Flamboro Speedway before progressing to CASCAR in 1994. He competed until 2006 before transitioning to ownership. As a team owner, Jacombs captured multiple championships, including titles with Andrew Ranger in 2007 and 2009, and later with Alex Labbé in 2017. He has accumulated more than 30 race wins as an owner. This experience shapes how he approaches his current role.
A Focus on Communication and Transparency
A central pillar of Salvas’ approach is communication. He has identified transparency and clarity as top priorities for the series moving forward. This philosophy extends to bilingual communication. Salvas has emphasized the importance of ensuring equal communication in both English and French, describing it as a matter of respect toward participants across Canada.
At a broader level, the leadership group is focused on continuous improvement and delivering the highest standard possible, bringing together teams, officials, stakeholders, and fans under a unified vision while consistently refining how the series operates and performs.
New Tools and Race Procedures
The 2026 season also introduces new operational updates under this leadership. Among them is the implementation of MyRacePass, along with open access to Race Monitor, giving fans easier access to live timing and race information.
Another addition is the introduction of the Choose Rule, a restart procedure widely used in other NASCAR-sanctioned series. This rule allows drivers to select either the inside or outside lane prior to restarts, adding a strategic layer to race execution. The designated choice zone will be marked at each event, beginning with the season-opening CarGurus 200 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
A New Standard, Starting at CTMP
With a clear emphasis on continuous improvement, the Salvas-Jacombs leadership sets the tone for 2026. Blending race control expertise with firsthand competitive insight, this new structure is designed to elevate both the execution of race weekends and the overall experience for teams and fans.
This new chapter begins this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where the 2026 season kicks off with the CarGurus 200. Follow the action this Saturday with practice sessions at 12:45 p.m. ET and 2:15 p.m. ET, leading into qualifying at 5:35 p.m. ET. The green flag for Sunday’s main event is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. Fans can watch live on REV TV and TVA Sports 2, with tape-delayed coverage following on TSN.
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