CORNELIUS N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Brett Moffitt will drive the No. 00 Toyota in 2011 as the team seeks its third consecutive K&N Pro Series East title.
The 18-year-old native of Grimes, Iowa replaces Ryan Truex who’ll race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011. Moffitt finished second to Truex in the 2010 standings.
“Hopefully I can get a chance to run for my first and their third championship this season,” said Moffitt who won East races at Martinsville and Dover in 2010. “This is a heck of an opportunity. I’m honored they chose me to contend for another championship. I plan to show them they made the right decision.”
Moffitt also won the pole for both races at New Hampshire Speedway and finished second in the point standings to Truex.
Moffitt started racing at age 11 and after three years in karts he became the youngest race winner at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway winning the 2007 edition of the Harris Clash. He finished second in the 2008 ASA Late Model North Series winning five races and Rookie of the Year honors.
Moffitt made his NASCAR debut in 2009 winning the pole in his first East race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway for Andy Santerre Motorsports. He finished third in the standings winning a race at Dover and South Boston and two poles before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2010.
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Car owner Michael Waltrip said Moffitt has some big shoes to fill at MWR.
“Ryan Truex gave Michael Waltrip Racing its first and second championships so he’ll always be my hero,” said Waltrip. “But we have a lot of faith in Brett. We saw what he did the last two years on the track and we are confident he’ll do well with us. I think MWR fans and NASCAR fans are really going to like him.”
Moffitt joins crew chief Mike Greci who’ll bid for his fifth East Series title. Greci won titles with Truex in 2009 and 2010 and with Mike Stefanik in 1997 and 1998.
