The team will field three full-time Truck Series entries under
the NTS Motorsports banner with Ron Hornaday at the wheel of the No. 9
Chevrolet Silverado and Brennan Newberry continuing in the No. 14 Chevrolet
Silverado. The team will also field the No. 24 entry full-time with a driver
(or drivers) to be announced. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Kevin Harvick
will drive the truck in both Martinsville Speedway events in April and October.
"This is a monumental next chapter of NTS
Motorsports," said Bob Newberry, owner of NTS Motorsports. "The team
just completed our 12th year in the sport, but with all the changes, 2013
should prove to be our best year so far."
Joe Denette will remain owner of Hornaday's No. 9 Chevrolet,
with Newberry owning of the No. 14. The two will become co-owners of the No. 24
entry.
"The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been, and will
continue to be, one of the most competitive series in our sport," said Denette.
"It is important to build and improve every day to make the strongest team
possible. By combining our people and equipment with Bob Newberry and NTS
Motorsports, it will help create a more competitive, stronger team for years to
come. This is a win-win situation for both teams and all of our partners."
Hornaday has inked a two-year contract to remain behind the
wheel of the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado. It will mark Hornaday's 14th full
season of NCWTS competition.
Bruce Cook has been named NTS Motorsports Director of
Competition. Cook, who has six NCWTS victories to his credit, including two
with Ron Hornaday, will also assume the role of crew chief for Hornaday's No. 9
machine. Hornaday, a four-time NCWTS champion and the series' most-winning
driver, was paired with Cook for four of the final six races of the 2011
season. The duo was able to capture two wins, one pole and four Top-5 finishes.
"The 2013 season is shaping up to be something really
big," said Hornaday. "There are a lot of things to look forward to in
the upcoming season. Joe is committed to this team and will do what it takes to
be competitive for 2013 and beyond. Bob has a history of building successful
companies and we share the same passion for winning races and ultimately
championships. He has put the right people in the right places and has a solid
plan in place to reach his goals. It means a lot to be back in the KHI building
where I had so much success in the past and with Bruce back on board I'm
looking forward to picking-up where we left off; winning races and competing
for the championship."
Dan Deeringhoff, who guided Clint Bowyer to a NASCAR Nationwide
Series title in 2008, will return as crew chief for the No. 14 truck, marking Newberry's
first full-time NCWTS season. He made his series debut at Martinsville Speedway
in March of 2012 and competed in 10 of the 22 series events last season.
"I am just so excited for the opportunity that 2013 brings
in my first full season in the truck series," said Newberry. "To be
able to work with Dan Deeringhoff as my crew chief for the second year in a
row, the opportunity to work with veteran and proven champion, Ron Hornaday, to
learn and gain knowledge from our new director of competition, Bruce Cook is a
dream come true."
Hornaday returns in 2013 |
"NTS Motorsports has made its mark on being a developmental
race team, moving our up-and-coming drivers from series to series,"
continued owner, Bob Newberry. "Now, to have leaders Bruce Cook and Dan
Deeringhoff and the veterans and icons of the sport Ron Hornaday and Kevin
Harvick helping mentor Brennan, it really brings everything full circle."
The crew chief for the No. 24 entry will be determined at a
later date, and sponsorship announcements will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
All three NTS Motorsports teams will utilize ECR Engines, a move that team
officials feel will give them a competitive advantage. NTS Motorsports will
operate out of the former Kevin Harvick Inc. shop in Kernersville, North
Carolina. Newberry and Wes Furrh jointly purchased the property in November, acquiring
70,000 square feet of space.
WOnder if Joe's Lottery money is running low. You know the old addage: "best way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a large one!" God Bless him for swinging the bat, though!
ReplyDelete