Braun Racing to attempt five Cup races in 2010
Braun Racing's Jason Leffler could be selected to compete in five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the organization in 2010. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Team owner Todd Braun said his Braun Racing team will attempt five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races next year, including the season-opening Daytona 500.
Braun, which fields three teams in the Nationwide Series, entered a Cup car for two races in 2005. The team plans to run a Toyota in 2010 while determining plans for 2011.
“We’re going to run some Cup races next year,” Braun said. “What it holds on our future, we don’t know. If I want to long-term survive in this sport, I’m going to have to go Cup racing at some point. I don’t think I can maintain forever being a Nationwide-only guy unless something happens in the series that I don’t see right now. I wish I could.”
Braun said he was happy with his team in the Nationwide Series but could need to move to Cup to survive financially.
The driver will be determined, though Braun said his current Nationwide driver, Jason Leffler, is a candidate. Other candidates, he said, could be Reed Sorenson, Bobby Labonte or Jamie McMurray, depending on available Cup rides next year.
Braun said he has a sponsor for the five Cup races, though he didn’t name the company. He also prefers to hire a crew chief with experience working with the new model Cup car.
“It’s going to be a good ride,” Braun said. “It’s going to come with a lot of Nationwide races along with it, maybe a full Nationwide deal. We don’t know. It’s going to be a good opportunity for somebody who might’ve fallen out of the Cup series.”
