Brad Keselowski Racing reveals Truck Series driver lineup for 2016
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 24: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #19 Stoney Creek Records Ford, qualifies for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 24, 2015 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Brad Keselowski Racing announced on Tuesday its driver lineup for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
Tyler Reddick will pilot the No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150 while Daniel Hemric joins the organization as the driver for the No. 19 Ford F-150 with support from sponsors California Clean Power and Cequent.
"We're very fortunate to have partners like Cooper Standard, California Clean Power and Cequent that make it possible to give two young drivers an opportunity and that's something I'm very proud of," team owner Brad Keselowski said. "Our main goal is to build off our momentum from 2015 and pursue a championship with two great full-time drivers. Both Tyler and Daniel have shown a lot of success on the racetrack and have more than earned this opportunity. We have two of the best drivers in the series running on a full-time basis, and I'm really happy about that and very optimistic about our future and chance for success in 2016."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Keselowski added that his organization would like to field a third team with multiple drivers behind the wheel, and that his company is hard at work in an effort to put a program together.
Reddick, 19, will return for his second full-time season at BKR in 2016, moving from behind the wheel of the No. 19 Ford to the No. 29 Ford with primary sponsorship from Cooper Standard and the company's Careers For Veterans program. The 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season has been a breakout year for Reddick, who scored his first career win in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. His second victory came just five races later, at Dover International Speedway. Reddick has been atop the NCWTS championship standings or ranked third or higher after every race.
"This is an outstanding opportunity that I have for a second consecutive season," Reddick said. "Cooper Standard is a long-time partner of the team, and it will be great to work with them in an enhanced role to support their objectives including furthering awareness of their important Careers For Veterans program. It's so much fun to drive for Brad Keselowski Racing. It's such a great organization to be around. We've grown so much as a team from the first part-time season in 2014, and I've really enjoyed the experience. I'm very happy to be coming back for a second full-time year to get to do it all over again."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hemric, 24, said it is an honor to drive for Keselowski and that finalizing his plans for the upcoming season is a weight lifted off his shoulders.
"When the opportunity was available with Brad Keselowski Racing and all of our great partners, it seemed like a good deal for everyone concerned," Hemric said. "It's an honor to team up with Brad and to have common goals when you go to the racetrack: Win races and put yourself in contention for a championship. To be able to insert yourself on a championship-contending team and a team that has a solid baseline on what they need every weekend. I'm really excited about continuing my relationship with California Clean Power, and can't wait to work with everyone at Cequent and their brands such as Draw-Tite. I'm already looking forward to Daytona."
The 2015 season has been Hemric's first in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has racked up four top fives and 12 top-10 finishes and is seventh in the series standings. His best finish this season is fourth -- three times, most recently on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"One of the things I wanted to do at BKR is give talented young drivers an opportunity," Keselowski said. "Both Tyler and Daniel are perfect examples of what I'm trying to accomplish. We saw a lot of improvement with Tyler in 2014, and he's done a great job in 2015. We hope we can finish it off with our first championship, but we're also excited about running for it again together in 2016.
"The first time I went to watch Daniel race in 2012 he won and that impression hasn't left me. He's having an incredible year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a rookie. I feel like he has a lot of untapped potential that we hope to showcase for our team."