Negotiations were ongoing to put 19-year-old African-American driver Chase Austin into a full-time Truck series ride this season with a newly forming team. Austin’s mother and business manager, Marianne Austin, said details of a multi-year contract had not been finalized, but that the potential deal would take him into Trucks, then into the Nationwide Series and eventually to Cup. But “I know they [the contract details] will work out,” Chase Austin said in a telephone interview. “Everything came together in a really short time. Fine-tuning will take some time.” Austin is scheduled to participate in a press conference here Wednesday morning called by Fitz Motorsports, an existing organization which is expected to be revamped and enhanced into Trail Motorsports, with new majority ownership.(ESPN.com)(1-21-2009)
UPDATE: Former owner of the #22 Fitz Motorsports Dodge team, Armando Fitz, co-announced the birth of Trail Motorsport, LLC., with owner Arthur Shelton. The team laid out an all new look, competitive approach, and driver line-up for the 2009 Nationwide Series. Chase Austin will drive the new team’s Camping World Truck while Jarit Johnson takes the reigns of the team’s Camping World East Series ride. A driver for the #22 Nationwide Series entry will be announced in the next couple of weeks. No sponsors where unveiled, but the team does have verbal agreements on some with announcements to come.(Racing One)(1-21-2009)
