Burney Lamar, Brian Vickers to share Braun Racing Nationwide ride in 2009
CONCORD, N.C. – Braun Racing officials announced Thursday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers and Burney Lamar will share the team’s No. 32 Toyota in the Nationwide Series next season.
Braun Racing owner Todd Braun said Vickers will drive the car in 17 events, with Lamar in 18. Lamar is a former Kevin Harvick Inc. driver who has been without a full-time ride since being release from KHI after the 2006 season.
The team previously announced Dollar General will sponsor the No. 32 in 2009.
“As I was putting on the Dollar General and Braun Racing shirt in the trailer, it’s a relief,” Lamar said. “Braun Racing is a team that runs up front every week. To get the opportunity to get behind the wheel of something like that and have a teammate like Brian is going to be a great experience. I’m looking forward to it.”
Jason Leffler drives the team’s other full-time entry, with sponsorship from Great Clips. Braun has run a No. 10 Toyota in selected races and could do that again next year, he said. Braun has sponsorship for several races for the No. 10, though he said that car could run “between five and 35” Nationwide races next year.
“We have sponsorship in place for a partial season, but we don’t know what we’re going to do yet,” Braun said. “We probably won’t make that decision for another 30 to 45 days.”
Sponsors Haas Avacados, ABF Freight and Beringer Vineyards are returning to the team and likely will back the No. 10 in selected races.
Braun said he wasn’t sure whether crew chiefs Todd Lohse and Trent Owens would remain with their respective teams.
