Photo Credit: Tele Quebec
Patrick Carpentier ran his last NASCAR race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2012 and said he was retiring from NASCAR. That seems to be short-lived following the announcement that the LaSalle, Que. native will run two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races later this year.
Carpentier will drive the No. 32 Can-Am Ford for Go FAS Racing at both Sonoma Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this year. The No. 32 has been driven primarily by rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt this year, but Bobby Labonte and Joey Gase have also stepped in the No. 32’s cockpit in 2016.
Carpentier has 40 starts in the Sprint Cup Series between 2007 and 2011 with a best finish of 11th at Sonoma in 2009 driving for Michael Waltrip Racing.
“Even if I say that I’m retired, I could not miss the opportunity to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, especially on circuits as interesting as those of Sonoma and Indianapolis,” Carpentier said. “I’m really happy to wear the colors of Can-Am, Kappa, and Cyclops Gear because I love to use their products.”
Go FAS Racing’s owner Archie St. Hilaire has had experience in bringing on “road course ringers” in the past to drive at tracks like Sonoma, so St. Hilaire hopes Carpentier’s experience at both Sonoma and Indy will help the team score good finishes.
“We look forward to working with Patrick at Sonoma and Indianapolis,” St. Hilaire said. “The last time he ran at Sonoma he finished 11th, and we plan on giving him a car that can give him a top-10 this June.”
