The plans for the organization on the Nationwide Series side include replacing Brian Scott after this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway with Turner’s current Camping World Truck Series drivers Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher. Braun driver Tayler Malsam also will be phased out. Steve Turner has big plans for Turner Motorsports, which expanded its Camping World Truck Series operations to the Nationwide Series beginning this weekend when it was announced Friday that he had bought the four-car operation of Braun Racing. Carmichael will make his Nationwide debut next week at Kansas Speedway in the #11 car, which was driven by Scott, whom Turner said has told the team he was leaving at the end of the season to go with another team. Sources indicated that Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the teams Scott has talked with about a possible ride next year. Jason Leffler and Reed Sorenson will keep their rides through the end of the year and it is possible they will remain with the team. Their sponsors, Great Clips and Dollar General, are expected to return next season. Turner said he will shut down the part-time Sprint Cup operation fielded by Braun this year.(Scene Daily)(9-25-2010)
UPDATE: Turner Motorsports announced that one of its drivers, Ricky Carmichael, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the #10 Monster Energy car at Kansas Speedway. Carmichael, a 15-time AMA Champion and current full-time driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will have long-time sponsor, Monster Energy Drink, on the hood of his car as part of Turner Motorsports’ acquisition of Braun Racing. Additionally, Carmichael is set to compete in the Nationwide Series races at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Moving forward, Carmichael plans to run full time in the Truck Series in 2011 and a partial Nationwide Series schedule with approximately seven races.(Turner Motorsports PR)(9-25-2010)
UPDATE: Braun Racing announced the release of driver Brian Scott for the remainder of the 2010 season. The parting of ways was mutual after Scott scored three top-5’s and five top-10’s in the #11 Braun Racing Toyota. Scott currently leads NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year standings.(Braun Racing)(9-27-2010)
UDPATE: Brian Scott has been released from Braun Racing and has talked with Joe Gibbs Racing about a Nationwide Series ride for next year, the teams have confirmed. JGR President J.D. Gibbs said Sunday the team is in discussions with Scott, who has one career NASCAR national series victory a Truck Series win at Dover last year. “We’re working through some of that [contract talk] with him and his dad, just kind of in general what do we have available and how does that work,” Gibbs said Sunday at Dover. “We’re working through that. I would’t say definitely yes or definitely no, but that’s definitely a possibility.”(Scene Daily)(9-27-2010)
UPDATE 4: Scott said he is hurrying to put together a new deal to maintain his spot at the top of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. “I’m very fortunate to have the people I have around me; from a family, management and manufacturer standpoint. The Raybestos Rookie deal is important to me and a lot of other people, including teams who know it would be a feather in their hat to have me finish the season in their cars. The phone’s been ringing a lot. I am absolutely not looking to miss any races,” he said. “My top priority right now is to finish the year and finish it strong. I’m not 100% (certain to race in Kansas), but I feel like we’re going to be able to get something done within the next day or two.”(Sirius Speedway)(9-27-2010)
