NASCAR Corona Series

NASCAR Corona Series

Sport	Auto racing
Founded	2004
No. of teams	35
Country(ies)	Mexico
Most recent champion(s)	German Quiroga
Official website	www.nascarmexico.com

The NASCAR Corona Series (formerly NASCAR Mexico Corona Series) is a NASCAR series in Mexico. It is the most important stock car racing series in the country.

Origins (Desafío Corona)

The Desafío Corona was established in 2004 by NASCAR Mexico, a joint-venture between NASCAR and Mexican entertainment group OCESA, with the idea of developing stock car racing in Mexico, and fueling a transition from the country’s historically open-wheel racing fan base to stock car racing.^[1]

From 2004 to 2006, the Desafío Corona grew considerably in infrastructure, as well as in number of fans, drivers and sponsors.

Present

NASCAR Corona Series logo, 2007-2010

The NASCAR Mexico Corona Series was officially presented at the 2006 Desafío Corona award ceremony. Starting in 2007, NASCAR is the sanctioning body of the series.^[2]

The series is one of two NASCAR-sanctioned international series, the other one being the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Following North American short-track racing trends to cut costs and unify rules among different tours, NASCAR is considering changes to the Canadian Tire and Corona Series where the two series adopt the Grand National rules as to allow the competitors to use the same cars in NASCAR Grand National Division races.

The winner of the Corona Series receives an invitation to the Toyota All-Star Showdown. All other drivers may also attempt to qualify by entering the heat races.

Corona Series Series tracks

In the 8 seasons has been used 13 tracks in 11 venues (two in Santiago de Querétaro and two in San Luis Potosí). Currently 6 ovals tracks are used, only Autódromo Monterrey is a road circuit. Three tracks has been used in two configurations. Autódromo Monterrey long and frijol, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in NASCAR Nationwide and oval, Autódromo Miguel E. Abed in a 2.75 km layout and oval.

Autódromo Potosino is the shortest track (0.804 km) and Autódromo Monterrey the longest (3.4 km).

San Luis Potosí is the venue with more races (20, 18 in Autódromo Potosino and 2 in Parque Tangamanga II)

Guadalajara

Querétaro

Gómez Palacio

México City

Apodaca

SLP

Zacatecas

León

Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Puebla

Aguascalientes

NCS venues. In green the former venues.

Venue	Tracks	Races	Last
San Luis Potosí	Autódromo Potosino Autódromo San Luis 400	20	2011
México City	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez	15	2011
Guadalajara	Trióvalo Bernardo Obregón	15	2010
Querétaro	Autódromo del EcoCentro Autódromo de Querétaro	15	2011
Puebla	Autódromo Miguel E. Abed	13	2011
Monterrey	Autódromo Monterrey	11	2011
Zacatecas	Autódromo de Zacatecas	8	2009
Tuxtla Gutiérrez	Autódromo de Chiapas	6	2011
Aguascalientes	Autódromo de Aguascalientes	5	2011
León	Autódromo de León	2	2004
Torreón	Autódromo Dinamita	1	2004

Cars

In the first season only General Motors, as Pontiac, and Dodge participated in the series^[3]. Ford made its debut in 2005 with Mustang,^[4] since 2006 Fusion is the car of Ford.^[5] In 2009 Toyota started its participation with Camry. Mazda 6 entered in 2010.^[6]

Most wins

Rank	Manufacturer	Wins	Races	% Wins
1	General Motors	45	106	42.5%
2	Ford	29	92	31.5%
3	Toyota	13	35	37.1%
	Dodge		104	12.5%
5	Mazda	6	21	28.6%

Specifications

• Chassis: Steel tube frame with safety roll cage, must be NASCAR standards.
• Engine Displacement: 5.7 L (5,700 cc) (350 in³) V8.
• Transmission: 4 Speed Manual.
• Weight: 2,680 lb (1,216 kg) Minimum (without driver).
• Power Output: 400 hp.
• Torque: 394 ft·lbf (534 N·m).
• Fuel: 98 octane unleaded gasoline provided by Pemex.
• Fuel capacity: 15 US gal (57 L).
• Fuel delivery: Carburetion.
• Compression ratio: 9.3:1.
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated.
• Wheelbase: 107 in (2,718 mm).
• Tires: Slick tires provided by Goodyear.
• Length: 205.25 in (5,213 mm).
• Width: 74 in (1,880 mm).
• Height: 52 in (1,321 mm).
• Safety equipment: HANS device, Seat belt.

Champions

Rafael Martínez champion of the 2007 season

Six drivers has won the championship. Telcel team is the most succesful with three drivers championships. Antonio Pérez, Sergio Pérez's brother, is the youngest champion (22 years old), and Rafael Martínez the older (45 years old)^[7]. Only, Germán Quiroga has won the title twice.

Season	Driver	Car	Team
2004	Carlos Pardo	Pontiac	Equipo Telcel-Sun-Motorola
2005	Jorge Goeters	Pontiac/ Dodge	Team GP
2006	Rogelio López	Pontiac/ Dodge	Escudería Telmex
2007	Rafael Martínez	Ford	Team GP
2008	Antonio Pérez	Dodge	Escudería Telmex
2009	Germán Quiroga	Ford	Equipo Telcel
2010	Germán Quiroga	Ford/ Dodge	Equipo Telcel

Rookie of the Year

Season	Driver	Car	Team
2004	Ignacio Alvarado	Pontiac	Alvarado Racing
2005	Patricio Jourdain	Ford	Motorcraft Racing
2006	Antonio Pérez	Pontiac	Escudería Telmex
2007	Mike Sánchez	Chevrolet	MAG Paper
2008	Irwin Vences	Ford	FCV Racing
2009	Alejandro Capín	Chevrolet	MT Sport Marketing
2010	Daniel Suárez		SC Racing/Equipo Telcel

Records

Most Wins

As August 7, 2011

Rank	Driver	Wins	Races	%Wins
1	Rogelio López	19	78	24.4%
2	Germán Quiroga	14	88	15.9%
	Rafael Martínez		92	16.3%
4	Jorge Goeters	11	91	12.1%
5	Carlos Pardo	10	74	13.5%
6	Antonio Pérez	9	78	11.5%
7	Homero Richards	8	75	10.7%
8	Rubén Rovelo	4	75	5.3%
	Rubén Pardo		78	5.1%
	Patrick Goeters		99	4.0%

Most Top tens

Rank	Driver	T10	Races	%T10
1	Germán Quiroga	70	88	79.5%
2	Jorge Goeters	61	90	67.7%
3	Rafael Martínez	55	92	59.8%
4	Rogelio López	54	78	69.2%
5	Patrick Goeters	53	99	53.5%
6	Carlos Pardo	52	74	70.3%
7	Rubén Pardo	51	78	65.4%
8	Carlos Peralta	49	92	53.3%
9	Antonio Pérez	44	78	56.4%
10	Homero Richards	43	75	57.3%

Races

Rank	Driver	Races	Seasons
1	Patrick Goeters	98	2004-2011
2	Rafael Martínez	91	2005-2011
	Carlos Peralta		2005-2011
4	Jorge Goeters	90	2004, 2005, 2007-2011
	Freddy Tame		2005-2011
6	Pepe Montaño	88	2005-2011
7	Germán Quiroga	87	2004, 2006-2011
8	Luis F. Montaño	85	2004-2011
9	Rubén Pardo	82	2004-2006, 2008-2011
	Rafael Vallina		2004-2011

All-Star Showdown

NASCAR Corona Series drivers were invited to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Points leader Rafael Martínez did not participate despite having a guaranteed starting spot.

Only Antonio Pérez participated in the Showdown, barely making it into the feature race after earning the final starting spot by finishing 6th in the "Last Chance" qualifier. Pérez started 40th and finished 31st after losing several laps following an early wreck.

2006 Corona Series champion Rogelio López, currently racing in the Busch East Series, also participated in the Showdown and finished a respectable 13th.

In 2011 Daniel Suárez, Germán Quiroga and Rubén Rovelo took part. They finished in 11th, 12th and 30th, respectly.^[8].

Female Drivers

To the date three women are started a NCS race. Mara Reyes scored a pole position in her first race.

Driver	Season	Entries	Starts	Wins	Top 10
Mara Reyes	2004-2005	28	28	0	20
Leslie González	2005	1	1	0	0
Estefania Reyes	2007, 2010-2011	21	17	0	0

Others NASCAR series

Some drivers have take part in Nationwide Series, but only Jorge Goeters and Scott Riggs has raced in Sprint Cup, Rubé Pardo and Rogelio López raced in Busch East Series achievement victories.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Drivers

Driver	Seasons	Starts	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
Carlos Contreras	2003, 2005-2007	16	0	0	0
Marc Davis	2008-2011	10	0	0	0
Jorge Goeters	2005-2007	10	0	0	2
Patrick Goeters	2006	1	0	0	0
Rogelio López	2006, 2007	2	0	0	0
Rafael Martínez	2005, 2008	2	0	0	0
Carlos Pardo	2006	1	0	0	0
Rubén Pardo	2007, 2008	6	0	0	0
Antonio Perez	2007-2010	7	0	0	0
Germán Quiroga	2007	1	0	0	0
José Luis Ramírez	2005, 2008	2	0	0	0
Mara Reyes	2005	1	0	0	0
Scott Riggs	2002-2003, 2005-2011	91	4	19	35

NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers

Two drivers have raced both NASCAR Corona Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Jorge Goeters Scott Riggs

References

1. ^ "OCESA y SELCA presentan su nuevo serial como ”Desafío Corona 2004”". Sporcar.com. March 5, 2004. http://www.sporcar.com/_bol2/Asp/Boletin.asp?Archi=040305183933. 
2. ^ "El Desafío Corona será en 2007 Nascar-México". La Jornada. December 8, 2006. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/12/08/index.php?section=deportes&article=a27n2dep. 
3. ^ "Mopar - Seman Baker seguirá teniendo los únicos autos Dodge en el Desafío". Sportcar. June 23, 2004. http://www.sportcar.com/%2BHoja.asp?Hoja=05/mex/selca/Index.asp. 
4. ^ "Ford entra al Desafío Corona con el Mustang 2005". Sportcar. January 25, 2005. http://www.sporcar.com/_bol2/Asp/Boletin.asp?Archi=050125180416. 
5. ^ "El Ford Fusion corre en los Stock Cars". Sportcar. February 2, 2006. http://www.sporcar.com/_bol2/Asp/Boletin.asp?Archi=060201110053. 
6. ^ "Mazda de México participará en la Nascar Corona Series". Portal Automotriz. April 9, 2010. http://www.portalautomotriz.com/content/site/module/news/op/displaystory/story_id/29215/format/html/. 
7. ^ "Conquista Rafael Martínez título en Nascar". Milenio. November 16, 2008. http://impreso.milenio.com/node/7142229. 
8. ^ "Suarez almost at the top ten; Rovelo in an accident at the Toyota All-Star". Escuderia Telmex. January 30, 2011. http://escuderiatelmex.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1309:su%C3%A1rez-a-un-paso-del-top-ten--rovelo-accidentado-en-la-toyota-all-star&Itemid=317&lang=en.