Mooresville, NC
(January 27, 2009) - Brazilian racecar driver, Nelson Piquet, Jr., is set to run in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on February 6, 2009. Piquet will make his debut in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (ARCA) in the No. 6 Toyota fielded by Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR).
The 24-year-old is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet. Having a family lineage in racing, Piquet got an early start behind the wheel of a racecar. From 1993 until 2001, Piquet ran in Brazilian karting, later moving to Formula Three Sudamericana and various other series under his father's sponsor Piquet Sports. After gaining adequate tracktime and obtaining numerous wins and championships during this six-year stint, Piquet moved to Formula One (F1) in 2007.
Running as an F1 test driver in 2007, Piquet earned the right to race 28 events for Renault F1 during 2008 and 2009, with his best result coming at the 2008 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim where he finished on the podium in second place. His five points scoring finishes that season helped the team finish fourth in the constructors' championship and secured his position with the team for 2009. For 2010, Piquet has decided to pursue a career in the USA and is focused on stockcar racing.
 "I'm very excited! I can't wait to reach 200mph side-by-side and rubbing paint!" Piquet said, "The plans for the season are coming together really well, and I am racing with two very strong teams. I can't wait to get out on track!" Eddie Sharp set up shop in Denver, N.C., located just outside of Charlotte. Since beginning in 2005, ESR has become the "team to beat," after winning the ARCA Championship with current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Justin Lofton in 2009. With a facility that closely resembles a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team; the ESR facility has the capacity to hold four top-caliber racing teams. "We are excited to have Nelson driving for us in Daytona this year," said Sharp. "He will represent ESR well, and we believe he will gain some good learning miles in a stockcar, especially racing at Daytona." In 2009, the four-man driving team of ESR collaboratively scored a championship, 5th, 7th and 11th in the season-ending standings. The entire ESR program, known as Team ESR to its employees, is dedicated and passionate about winning in ARCA and advancing its drivers further in their career to eventually run in NASCAR. For more information about Nelson Piquet, Jr., please visit www.npiquet.com. For more information about Eddie Sharp Racing, please visit www.teamesr.com. |
