GEARING UP

1 NASCAR makes its Canadian debut Saturday with a Busch Series race on the 2.7-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal, where the Formula One series holds the Canadian Grand Prix. The Busch Series also has held races the last two years in Mexico City.

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2 The Grand Am-Rolex Sports Car Series also makes its debut today(Fri) on the Montreal track, with veteran Scott Pruett of Auburn, Calif., leading the Daytona prototype standings for Chip Ganassi’s team.

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3 The Sept. 2 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway will be called the Sharp Aquos 500 as part of a sponsorship agreement between the Fontana track, Sharp Electronics and 3M Co.

The speedway also said pop singer Stevie Wonder would be the race’s grand marshal and give the command to start the engines.

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4 Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 this week and docked 25 points by NASCAR for cursing during a television interview after his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Sunday.

Stewart, who had just scored his second victory in three years at his hometown track, was dedicating the win to his fans when he made the remark. The penalty doesn’t hurt the Joe Gibbs Racing driver in the points standings; he’s still fifth.

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5 In local racing Saturday night, Irwindale Speedway will have late-model stock cars and a demolition derby, USAC/CRA sprint cars return to Perris Auto Speedway, and modified stock cars are featured at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.