Negotiations were ongoing late Tuesday night 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. 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. “What we’re carving out with them would be full time for 2009 and beyond,” Marianne Austin said.(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 NASCAR 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. With the unveiling came the Trail Motorsport “Fan Forward” philosophy that stresses the role of the average fan in the path this team will take. With unprecedented access to the team, fans will experience the opportunity to have their “voice” truly heard. The Team has made the commitment to ensure that a fan-member of the Trail Motorsport will be featured on the side of the car in every race, beginning in their first at Daytona.(RacingOne.com)(1-21-2009)
UPDATE 2: [Arthur] Shelton said he has a five-year commitment of his own finances, and “a five-year plan,” for the team. He will return mainly to his Chicago businesses, while Trail will be run day-to-day by his son, Patrick Shelton, who has extensive experience in motorsports marketing and business.(ESPN.com)(1-21-2009)
UPDATE 3: The #32 Chevy Silverado will be piloted by Chase Austin of Kansas, and the crew will be led by Crew Chief, John Monson.(TrailMotorsport.com)(2-4-2009)
UPDATE 4: The Trail Motorsport website lists Jon Monson as crew chief for the #32, but sources have told us this is not the case. I’ve been told that John Monson is working as crew chief for the #2-Eddie Sharp Racing ARCA team with driver Tim George Jr.(2-4-2009)
UPDATE 5: During the final practice session on SPEED/TV, it was reported that Trail Motorsport has leased both crew & trucks from MRD for the first two races of 2009. Beginning with race three, Dennis Connor will be the full-time crew chief.(2-12-2009)
