Kevin Harvick Inc tonight announced it would be running ex F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series in 2011.
The 25 year old Brazilian will also be able to race for the Rookie of the Year award because of the limited programme he ran in 2010.
“This is a very unique opportunity to have a driver like Nelson be a part of KHI,” said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. “In five starts in the Truck Series this season he not only gained valuable seat time but proved himself by getting some solid finishes. We are excited to have Nelson as a part of our Truck Series program as he takes another step forward in his career.”
“I am very excited to join KHI and to drive in the Truck Series,” said Piquet. “I look forward to combining what I have learned this year from running five races in the series with the professionalism and experience of the KHI organization. I want to thank Kevin, DeLana and everyone at KHI for this opportunity. I am looking forward to our partnership and I can't wait to get out on the track in a KHI Chevrolet Silverado and start winning races.”
In the races Piquet started in the 2010 Truck Series he scored three top ten finishes including a sixth place in the opening race at Daytona. He also ran one Nationwide race and had three starts in the lower league ARCA series.
Harvick runs KHI from a facility in Kernersville, N.C., is entering his eighth season in the Truck Series and will be running the #33 Chevrolet for Ron Hornaday who finished seventh in last year’s standings and the #2 truck with driving duties shared between Harvick, Elliott Sadler and other drivers. More details about Piquet’s truck will be announced in the future.
KHI also runs a Nationwide Series team, having taken it over from Richard Childress Racing, running Elliott Sadler full time in that car.