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NASCAR’s top Canadian series now looking for new title sponsor

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park - Day 2

BOWMANVILLE, ON - AUGUST 30: Brad Graham, driver of the 319 Holmar Plumbing Ford and Curtis Fielding, driver of the #9 Fielding Estate Winery Ford practice for the Clarington 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on August 30, 2014 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR via Getty Images

Canadian Tire has announced the end of its title sponsorship for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Canada’s top stock car league, at the conclusion of the 2015 season. The company has held the sponsorship since 2007.

As part of its written statement, Canadian Tire said it would continue to sponsor Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario and “support Canadian drivers and racing where it makes sense in the future.”

CTMP, a road course, currently hosts the Canadian Tire Series as well as the bigger Camping World Truck Series and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Jeff Pappone of The Globe and Mail also reports that Canadian Tire’s decision includes the end of its sponsorship for three-time series champion Scott Steckly.

George Silbermann, NASCAR’s vice president for regional and touring series, issued his own statement:

“Canadian Tire has been a valued partner since 2007 and we appreciate their efforts to grow NASCAR racing in Canada. The series continues to be Canada’s premier motorsports league, and we expect there to be very strong interest in this premium entitlement sponsorship opportunity. We look forward to working with all of our partners in Canada to continue delivering exciting NASCAR racing to our fans.”

This news is another setback for the series, which recently lost one of its top stars in J.R. Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, who made 30 starts across both the Xfinity and Truck Series from 2007-2012, finished second in Canadian Tire Series points last year but said recently that rising costs have forced him to focus on Super Late Model racing in the OSCAAR (Ontario Stock Car Association of Asphalt Racers) series.

The Canadian Tire Series begins the 2015 season at CTMP on May 17.

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