Turner Motorsports and Miguel Paludo announced today that the top-tier NASCAR team and the rising Brazilian talent will extend their partnership in 2013. Paludo, who joined the championship-winning team in 2012, will compete full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series next season. Paludo will return to the seat of the #32 Chevrolet Silverado with sponsorship from long-time partner Duroline Brakes and Components, along with additional marketing partners to be announced at a later date. Crew chief Jeff Hensley will continue to lead the team from atop the pit box. A two-time champion in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil (2008, 2009), Paludo made his NASCAR debut in 2010 with a partial NCWTS schedule before joining the full-time ranks in 2011. Paludo has made 51 starts in the Truck Series, accumulating four top-fives, 14 top-10s, one pole and a best finish of third (Michigan International Speedway, August 2011). Paludo also made history in the 2012 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway by becoming the first Brazilian driver to win a pole in one of NASCAR’s top-three series. Paludo concluded the 2012 season 10th in the NCWTS point standings, his best points finish in two full-time seasons of Truck Series competition.(Turner Motorsports PR)(12-3-2012)
News from December 2, 2012
<li>Penske offers Tony Stewart Indianapolis 500 ride: If Tony Stewart wants to run the Indianapolis 500 next season, Roger Penske will give him a car. Penske twice Friday night offered Stewart the chance to enter next year’s race and insisted he’s serious about the opportunity. ‘Where’s Stewart?’ Penske asked during his speech accepting the Sprint Cup trophy during NASCAR’s season-ending awards ceremony. ‘How about doing the double at Indy this year? You available?’ The banquet room at Wynn Las Vegas Resort broke out into laughter, but Penske later insisted he was serious. ‘If he wants to do the double, I ‘d put him in it,’ Penske said. ‘We ‘ve talked about it before. I guess I made it official tonight.’ Stewart was not immediately available for comment.(in part from the Associated Press)(12-2-2012)