NNSracing.com

Racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is always special to Canadian Patrick Carpentier, but this weekend's NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race there will be bittersweet.

That's because this will be Carpentier's final race, as the 39-year-old Joliette, Quebec native plans to retire after this weekend.

"It's going to be a different experience," Carpentier said. "I have been doing this for 27 years now. I am happy with the decision - it feels right."

Carpentier has made 54 starts in his NASCAR career, 40 in the Sprint Cup Series and 14 in Nationwide Series. starts, Carpentier owns two poles, three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He's won one pole - in Montreal in 2007 - and has three top-five and five top-10s in his brief Nationwide career.

Carpentier raced in open-wheel cars for several years before making the transition to stock cars.

"I want to spend more time with my family and become more involved in real estate," Carpentier said. "I know I will miss it, but in the last three years the races have been few and far between. So at some point you have to realize it's time to move on and let the young kids have their chance."