Former NFL defensive lineman Jared Odrick entered his first NASCAR Canada weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières knowing he would be stepping into one of the most competitive events of the season.
By the end of the weekend, the driver of the No. 24 Black’s Underwear/Cathcart Trucking/BC RaceCars Ford had experienced both the challenge and potential that came with his first start in the series.
Starting 28th, Odrick worked his way through the field and ran near the top 10 before an incident ended his race prematurely. Despite the result, his progress throughout the race gave Odrick and the team a positive foundation as they prepare for another street circuit this weekend at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham.
A Return to Trois-Rivières
Although it marked his first NASCAR Canada start, GP3R was not Odrick’s first experience on the streets of Trois-Rivières.
Two years earlier, he competed at the event in a Mercedes GT4. It was after that race, while watching NASCAR Canada compete later in the weekend, that Odrick began considering the possibility of getting behind the wheel of one of the series’ cars himself.
“We watched the NASCAR Canada race, and we saw those cars come out,” Odrick recalled. “That inspired us to come back.”
His experience in Trans Am provided a natural foundation for the transition. Odrick won the SCCA Runoffs GT2 Championship in 2023 before capturing the Trans Am TA2 Pro-Am championship in 2025. He is currently competing in Trans Am again while defending that title.
Still, adapting to NASCAR Canada required an adjustment period. Odrick said he initially worked to understand the braking characteristics of the car during practice but became increasingly comfortable as the weekend progressed. Once the race began, that comfort translated into forward progress.
“The competition was high, but we were so happy to see how competitive we were in a racing situation and how good the car was late in the race,” Odrick said.
From the Defensive Line to the Driver’s Seat
At 6-foot-5, Odrick’s transition into the No. 24 also required some modifications before he could take to the track. The BC RaceCars crew adjusted the foot box and pedal positioning to accommodate his frame.
The physical preparation for racing has also required Odrick to adapt from the training that defined his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rather than focusing on the strength and explosive movements required from a defensive lineman, Odrick now emphasizes endurance, heat tolerance and maintaining concentration while under physical stress.
For Odrick, that sustained focus is one of the biggest differences between his two sports.
“With racing, beating my chest and having moments of being proud in the middle of the race really don’t get you anywhere,” he explained. “I think the car becomes this natural cell, if you will, for my behavior and for my focus and for my intensity.”
Another Street Circuit Awaits
Odrick has little time to settle after his NASCAR Canada debut. His second start comes this weekend on another street course as the series makes its first appearance on the new circuit in Markham.
While the 3.52-kilometre, 12-turn layout will be unfamiliar to the entire field, Odrick arrives with a full NASCAR Canada race weekend now behind him and a better understanding of the car.
Markham is also expected to be the next step in a broader NASCAR Canada program. Odrick is set to compete inthe remaining road-course events this season.
Beyond the remainder of 2026, he remains open to where his racing career could take him. Odrick expressed interest in continuing to compete in stock cars and identified NASCAR’s international series as one potential path.
“Doing something like NASCAR Canada and running for a championship would be amazing,” he said.
For now, the focus remains on building on what he learned at Trois-Rivières and applying it to another new challenge in Markham.
The green flag for the Markham 125 is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. The race will be broadcast live on REV TV, TVA Sports 2 and the NASCAR Canada YouTube channel, with tape-delayed coverage also available on TSN.