Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. signs with Red Horse Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will drive for Red Horse Racing in the season-opening Truck Series race Friday at Daytona International Speedway.
Piquet, who drove for Renault in 2008 and part of the 2009 season, finished 27th in the Automobile Racing Club of America race last Saturday at Daytona.
“The plans for the season are coming together really well,” Piquet said. “I can’t wait to get out on track and start my NASCAR career.”
The 24-year-old Brazilian driver has turned to NASCAR after a scandal where he deliberately crashed in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to set up a scenario where Renault teammate Fernando Alonso went on to win a race.
He has tested for Red Horse Racing at the short tracks of Motor Mile (Va.) Speedway and New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
“We have closely observed Nelson in our testing and believe he has a great future in NASCAR,” said team co-owner Tom DeLoach, whose team has been looking for sponsorship for Piquet. “He exhibits excellent car control, gives good feedback, but needs the side-by-side experience. He’ll get plenty of that in Daytona.
“Nelson has a huge international following which hopefully will attract a race partner for the team.”
Red Horse already has two full-time trucks for Timothy Peters and Justin Lofton.
