[media-credit name=”Photo by Scott Hunter” align=”alignright” width=”145″]
[/media-credit]New team & New Driver Together Take to the High Banks at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 24th’
Wauters Motorsports, with veteran crew chief turned team owner Richie Wauters, head to the historic Daytona International Speedway with Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Paulie Harraka for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Paulie Harraka, a Duke University senior and former champion in NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series, will make his first start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway piloting the No. 5 Ford F-150 in the NEXTERA Energy Resources 250. Harraka made his first start on the 2.5-mile superspeedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards on February 18th (start 36 – finish 26). Harraka was running in the eighth-place position with five-laps remaining and was spun, but recovered to finish the race. Harraka competed on the road course at Daytona in go-karts, winning twice in 2004.
“Having my first NCWTS start at Daytona will be a dream come true for me, and I am blessed to have the chance to do so. The high banks at Daytona are certainly breathtaking, and I’ve been gazing at them since I was 5 years old. To get to drive on them is an amazing opportunity and one that I intend to make the most of.” Paulie Harraka said. “I believe Richie (Wauters) and I will work very well together. He’s the type of experienced veteran I believe will be a huge asset to me as I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. Richie and I are racers to the core, willing to put in whatever hours are necessary, and make whatever sacrifice is needed, to win races.”
Although this is the first race for the No. 5 Wauters Motorsports team, owner Richie Wauters, has a vast amount of experience at the famed Daytona International Speedway in his tenure as a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series crew chief. Wauters has six previous crew chief starts on the superspeedway with a best finish of second place in 2008 with Kyle Busch, as well as, three top-15 finishes and one start from the pole-position, Kerry Earnhardt, 2005.
“We are extremely excited about racing with Paulie in Daytona,” Wauters said. “He has an amazing track record behind him in several series and I am sure he will be a fierce competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Obviously, there will be a learning curve but with the team behind Paulie and his willingness to learn it won’t be long before he is running out front, leading laps and winning races.”
Harraka has been awarded the rookie of the year title in two NASCAR Series: NASCAR Whelen All American Series and NASCAR Camping World Series West (Now K&N Pro Series West) and hopes to continue the tradition with the 2012 Sonoco Rookie of the Year honors.
The NEXTERA Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is slated to begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Live SPEED pre-race coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio coverage begins at 7:45 p.m.
SPEED will also provide live broadcast coverage of NCWTS practice on Thursday, February 23rd at 12 noon and final practice at 6:30 p.m. with live qualifying coverage Friday, February 24th beginning at 4 p.m.
For more information on Wauters Motorsports and Paulie Harraka please visit www.WautersMotorsports.com, Facebook: Wauters Motorsports, Twitter @WautersMotors5 and www.PaulieHarraka.net, Facebook: Paul Harraka, Twitter @PaulieHarraka.
