JGR Reveals 2010 East Lineup
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Joe Gibbs Racing revealed its 2010 NASCAR Camping World Series East driver lineup of Max Gresham and Brett Moffitt today at the organization’s media day.
With one of the more prominent driver development programs in NASCAR today, JGR has fielded teams in the Camping World Series East in recent seasons for such up-and-coming talents as Joey Logano, Marc Davis and Matt DiBenedetto. Gresham and Moffitt will look to continue the trend of on-track success in the series for JGR in 2010.
Gresham, from Griffin, Ga., made his Camping World Series debut with JGR in 2009 with four starts. In three Camping World Series East races he recorded a pair of top 10s and his lone Camping World Series West run resulted in a third-place effort at Iowa Speedway.
“Last year was a great experience and a great learning curve,” Gresham said. “This year we’re fortunate enough to be able to do all 10 races, and we’re looking for bigger and better things. I can’t wait to see what this year is going to hold for us.”
Moffitt finished third in the 2009 Camping World Series East championship standings on the strength of nine top 10s in 11 starts and was a narrow runner-up to series champion Ryan Truex for Sunoco Rookie of the Year while driving for Andy Santerre Motorsports.
Moffitt’s series debut at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway saw the Grimes, Iowa teen earn the pole, and his inaugural campaign was highlighted by wins at South Boston (Va.) Speedway and Dover (Del.) International Speedway. In the process Moffitt became the youngest pole and race winner in series history at 16 years of age, eclipsing the marks set by Logano in 2007.
“I’m very lucky to have the opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing, and hopefully we can build a strong relationship there and have a long future together,” Moffitt said. “Returning to the Camping World Series will definitely help because I’m familiar with some of the tracks and drivers.”
Also participating in Monday’s media session was Darrell Wallace Jr., another JGR development driver who is currently being evaluated in the Drive for Diversity initiative, and is a candidate to join the newly-established Revolution Racing team, which is managed by Santerre.
Monday’s JGR media session also involved NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Logano along with NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Brad Coleman and DiBenedetto. It is part of the week-long NASCAR Charlotte Media Tour leading up to the start of the 2010 racing season.
The media session additionally revealed that DiBenedetto, who recorded two wins and three poles in seven Camping World Series East starts last year, will compete exclusively in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010. DiBenedetto’s last planned start in a Camping World Series car will be in the upcoming NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Jan. 29-30 in Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
The 2010 Camping World Series East season is slated to open on March 27 at Greenville Pickens.