Tagliani Autosport announced earlier this week Monday that Stefan Rzadzinski will drive the No. 18 Team EpiPen/Dicom Express entry in the 2014 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) season opener on May 18th at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
Alex Tagliani was originally scheduled to run the full NCATS schedule in 2014, however, he will miss the season opener as it falls on the same day as Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Tagliani is attempting to qualify for the 98th running of the “Greatest Spectacle of Racing” with Sarah Fisher-Hartman Racing.
Tagliani says he and business partner Colin Livingston, President of CanTorque Incorporated of Edmonton Alberta, chose Edmonton, Alberta native Rzadzinski due to his talent, as well as his ability to represent the sponsors.
“We are so fortunate to have amazing partners in EpiPen/Pfizer and Dicom, so it was important for Colin and I to go with a young driver who not only has talent like Stefan has in abundance, but a driver who’s also well spoken and intelligent to represent our partners in the best way possible,” Tagliani commented. “Being from Edmonton, he also gives Tagliani Autosport and the team very valuable Western Canada exposure and visibility. We’re very excited to bring Stefan on board.”
21-year-old Rzadzinski started racing at the age of eight, and has been progressing up through the open-wheel ranks. He was a major prize-winner in the Skip Barber Shootout, a finalist for the Team Canada Scholarship for young drivers, a “Road to Indy” podium finisher, a two-time Ontario F-1600 Championship Runner-Up, Canadian Automobile Sports Club’s Ontario Region Rookie of the Year, and the Western Canadian Motorsports Association Driver of the Year.
“I’m very excited to kick off my relationship with Tagliani Autosport this season,” Rzadzinski commented. “It means a great deal to be trusted to drive Alex Tagliani’s Team EpiPen/Dicom Express No. 18 for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season opener on May 18th. Canadian Tire Motorsports Park is a track I’m familiar with from my Formula 1600 days, so I’ll be looking to take that knowledge and apply it to the bigger and more powerful NASCAR Canadian Tire Series car. After what feels like the longest off-season in history, I can’t wait to get back on track.”
Rzadzinski will be running the race as a teammate to three-time Canadian Tire Series Champion Scott Steckly as Steckly’s 22 Racing team is preparing Tagliani’s car for the 2014 season.
