Each season, NASCAR Canada attracts competitors from beyond its borders, bringing new talent to the starting grid.
Among them in 2026 were Italian driver Vittorio Ghirelli, who recently secured his third consecutive NASCAR Euro Series V8GP championship; Jared Odrick, an American former NFL defensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars who transitioned into motorsport; Tyler Gonzalez of St. Cloud, Florida, who has competed in various American racing series; and Josh Hurley of Cooper City, Florida, an experienced sports car racer. While their backgrounds differ, all four shared a common goal: taking on the challenge of NASCAR Canada and competing against some of the country’s most experienced drivers.
For Hurley, joining the championship was an ambition years in the making. Having first discovered the series while racing in Grand-Am during a shared weekend at Trois-Rivières, the opportunity finally came through BC Racecars, a team with which he had built a strong relationship over several years.
“We simply click and love working with each other,” Hurley explained. “Having it all come together with a team I love working with who wants me there made it a dream.”
Odrick’s interest also began at Trois-Rivières, where he watched a NASCAR Canada race in 2024 after competing in a GT4 event earlier that day.
“The attitude and sound of the cars, the size of the field and the energy of the fan engagement immediately made me question if we raced the wrong car,” he recalled.
For Ghirelli, who arrived at Trois-Rivières as a two-time NASCAR Euro Series PRO champion before recently claiming his third consecutive title, competing in Canada was part of a broader ambition to expand his NASCAR career internationally.
“Canada represented a fantastic opportunity to discover a new racing environment, compete against some of the best Canadian drivers and experience the passion for NASCAR on another continent.”
New Challenges and Memorable Moments
Despite their experience in other championships, adapting to NASCAR Canada’s cars and circuits presented a new challenge.
For Ghirelli, racing at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières meant getting up to speed with an unfamiliar car, team and circuit with limited preparation. Nevertheless, the Italian qualified seventh, just 0.38 seconds from pole position, and ultimately finished 10th in the race.
“Being able to compete against some of Canada’s best drivers on their home ground and achieve a solid result with a limited package gave me great satisfaction.”
Odrick, who had spent nearly three years competing in Trans Am’s TA2 class, also discovered the differences in NASCAR Canada’s cars, particularly the bias-ply tires, higher RPMs and reduced downforce.
His NASCAR Canada debut at Trois-Rivières saw him overcome an early setback. After engine issues prevented him from qualifying, he started 28th and fought his way through the field, briefly reaching fourth during one of the final restarts before an incident ended his charge.
“Starting in the back of the field and grabbing a glimpse of the front is etched in my mind.”
For Gonzalez and Hurley, their standout moments came at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Gonzalez demonstrated his pace with RGR Motorsports by leading the race despite having missed practice, before a mechanical issue brought his run to an unfortunate end.
“After not getting any practice, I felt that race was a true testament of the speed that myself and RGR Motorsports had to show.”
Hurley, meanwhile, overcame a difficult start to the season-opening weekend to lead in the closing laps, only to be caught in an incident behind him.
Beyond the results, coming from a sports car racing background, Hurley particularly appreciated having a car to himself rather than sharing it with a co-driver, as he had for much of his career.
“It’s also been a joy to drive without driver aids and data live in the car. It brings back so much more into the driver’s hands and even brings back some driving creativity,” Hurley explained.
A Warm Welcome North of the Border
While the competition was intense, the welcoming atmosphere of the NASCAR Canada paddock left an equally strong impression.
For Gonzalez, who initially expected to feel like an outsider, the reception from fellow drivers, teams and officials was one of the biggest surprises.
“Being an outsider, I figured it was going to be me versus the world, but I was surprised that everyone from the other drivers and crew and especially the officials were extremely excited to have me there and help me learn the ropes.”
Ghirelli shared that sentiment, particularly when reflecting on the atmosphere at Trois-Rivières.
“I was genuinely impressed by how much people love motorsport and how knowledgeable, enthusiastic and welcoming they are.”
Off the track, the drivers also found time to discover a few Canadian favourites.
For Odrick, a stop at a small Mexican restaurant in Pierrefonds, Québec, resulted in some of the best birria tacos he had ever tasted outside Texas. Hurley, already familiar with Canadian racing culture from his karting days, discovered a new appreciation for Tim Hortons’ Iced Capp.
Ghirelli, meanwhile, particularly enjoyed discovering Québec’s culture and connecting with local fans throughout the Trois-Rivières weekend. For the Italian champion, the experience left him eager for another opportunity to compete in Canada.
“I would absolutely love to return to NASCAR Canada in the future, hopefully with the opportunity to compete in more races and fight for podiums and victories.”
From the United States to Italy, each driver brought a different perspective to the 2026 NASCAR Canada season. Whether through close battles on track, new friendships in the paddock or experiences beyond the circuit, their time north of the border left a lasting impression.