NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy has announced that the organization is exploring the possibility of hosting a race in Canada, with the popular F1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal a potential destination.

Earlier this season, and for the first time since 1958, NASCAR hosted a points event outside of the U.S. when the Cup Series and Xfinity Series raced at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Like several professional sports in this era, NASCAR wants to go international.

NASCAR has also considered taking the Cup Series to Brazil, and the organization is making a greater effort to add more international drivers to its roster. Now, Kennedy has revealed early plans to take NASCAR north of the U.S. border.

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Kennedy commented on NASCAR’s international vision. “We’d love to be both north of the border and south of the border in the future, and potentially beyond that at some point,” he said.

“We’ve had a handful of conversations with a few groups north of the border interested in a national series race. We haven’t been able to deliver that yet.

“But I would say that is something that we’re taking a look at as we think about 2027 and beyond. We have some good relationships up there.

“I think the good news is we have experience bringing both our O’Reilly Series and our Craftsman Truck Series north of the border with a handful of promoters. Nothing to report today, obviously, but something that is high on our consideration set for ’27.”

While Kennedy didn’t specifically announce a potential venue, NASCAR has previously held races in Montreal. In 2019, the Truck Series raced at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Clarington, Ontario.

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From 2017 to 2012, the Xfinity Series took place at the famous Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, a popular race on the Formula 1 calendar. Since first appearing on the schedule in 1978, Montreal has been a mainstay and has witnessed some historic events.

The 2011 Montreal Grand Prix remains the longest in F1 history because of a lengthy rain delay, and seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton won his first career race there in 2007. The Cup Series could create history should NASCAR opt to head north of the border.

While most drivers have supported the international push, Joey Logano admitted that it raised logistical challenges. “I think all sports, you know, have some kind of national appeal,” Logano said to ESPN.

“And you see this in other sports too, as they start to go abroad a little bit and just do a game or two in different countries. Well, same thing for NASCAR.

“Logistically, it’s a little harder for us, because we’re not just taking the team—we’ve got to take the car and all the parts and the pieces, and it’s just a lot.” However, while Mexico City is over 2,000 miles from where most NASCAR teams are located in North Carolina, Montreal is much closer.