Richard Petty Development Driver Will Pilot No. 51 Entry for Phoenix Racing
CONCORD, N.C. (August 20, 2013) – Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) development driver Ryan Truex will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway during Saturday night’s 500-lap race. Truex will drive the No. 51 entry for Phoenix Racing. Truex signed a multi-year development deal with RPM earlier this year and the team is currently working to secure sponsorship funding.
Ryan Truex, who had already been working with Phoenix Racing with opportunities earlier this year, has a long history of providing young drivers opportunities to race for their team. It was also Phoenix Racing that helped Ryan’s older brother Martin Truex in the beginning stages of his career. The opportunity came for Phoenix Racing to put Ryan behind the wheel this weekend.
The Mayetta, New Jersey native has two Nationwide series starts at Bristol and most recently posted a top-10 finish in the spring event in 2012. In his career, Truex made 35 Nationwide, three truck and 22 K&N East starts. He’s won Championships in every full season of competition. He won the K&N Series East Championship back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.
“I’m excited to make my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Bristol,” said Truex. “It has been tough waiting on the sidelines while I healed from my collarbone injury, but now I am ready to go and make my Sprint Cup Series debut. It’s pretty awesome that it’s coming at Bristol at the night race. This is a premier race on the Sprint Cup circuit.
“To have Richard Petty Motorsports and Phoenix Racing support me in this endeavor really means a lot,” continued Truex. “I’m excited for the rest of this year and my future with RPM.”
“The King” Richard Petty is also anxious to see the 21-year-old make his Sprint Cup debut.
“It will be a big night for Ryan,” said team owner Richard Petty. “He is a talented driver, and we look forward to his future with our team. We are working hard to find funding support to give him more opportunities behind the wheel.”
Truex will make his first laps during Sprint Cup practice at noon Friday, August 23 and hit the track for final practice and qualifying that afternoon.
Saturday’s night race is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST with live coverage on ABC, PRN and SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.
About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneurs Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.
