NSCS: Brett Moffitt Atlanta Race Preview

CORNELIUS, N.C. — When you talk about the rising stars of NASCAR a few names come to mind like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Based on the record book, the NASCAR world should add one more name to the list…Brett Moffitt.

In five years of fulltime NASCAR Pro Series East competition (2009-13) the 22-year-old Grimes, Iowa native won nine of the 61 races he entered.

Not bad considering NASCAR XFINITY Champion Chase Elliott won one race in 26 East races in his two-year career in the series. The 2014 Sprint Cup rookie of the year Kyle Larson won two of the 14 East races he entered and Darrell (Bubba) Wallace Jr., won six of 36 East races he entered.

What’s the difference between Moffitt and those rising stars since their days in the East Series?

Opportunity.

That changes at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Moffitt will drive Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 55 Aaron’s 60th Anniversary Dream Machine Toyota replacing Brian Vickers who’ll make his 2015 debut next weekend in Las Vegas after recovering from heart surgery.

Though Moffitt owns a few Sprint Cup starts, he’s never had a chance to demonstrate his talent with a full-time team, crew and car that’s competing for wins and a championship. Moffitt sees this weekend’s race as a chance to show the world he belongs with the sport’s young stars.

BRETT MOFFITT: “You always want to do well but you also don’t want to go out and make a crazy mistake trying too hard. I want to do well for myself but also for Michael Waltrip Racing and Aaron’s. They have shown a lot of faith in me over the last few years and given me this chance. That’s all I ask for. I want to show that I belong out here. We’ve had a lot of success back home in Iowa and in the East Series, but my family can’t fund racing out of its own pocket and sponsorship is always a challenge. When that’s the case, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for guys like me. So, you have to run well when you do have an opportunity like I’ll have in Atlanta. That isn’t pressure, in fact it’s kind of fun. Pressure to me is walking around the track with no ride.”

NOTES:

• SPECIAL PAINT SCHEME: Atlanta-based Aaron’s will celebrate its 60^th anniversary with a special paint scheme on the No. 55 this weekend. Aaron’s joined MWR in 2000 serving as a primary sponsor in Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races. With more than 2,100 stores across the country, Aaron’s helps customers own the life they want.

• CHASSIS: Primary Chassis: 814 – finished 16th at Indy with Clint Bowyer, Vickers finished 13th at Richmond in September & 37th at Charlotte in October. Backup: 813 – Bowyer drove chassis to 17th at Charlotte in May, 10th and sixth at Michigan races and ninth at Dover in September.

• DAYTONA: Michael Waltrip finished 26th at Daytona last weekend driving the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine.

• MOFFITT NUMBERS: Moffitt is a nine-time winner in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competition and currently serves as a test driver for Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and Michael Waltrip Racing. In 63 career NASCAR K&N Pro Series races, Moffitt has earned 10 poles, 34 top-five finishes and 45 top-10 finishes. In his 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Iowa Speedway, Moffitt finished ninth. The following year, he also made his first start in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition, where he finished 14th at Kentucky Speedway and 17th at Michigan International Speedway. In 2014, Moffitt made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Dover International Speedway, where he started 18th and finished 22nd. He has since competed in six additional Sprint Cup events.

Additional Moffitt stats:

• Sprint Cup Series: 7 starts
• XFINITY Series: 1 start, 1 top-10
• Camping World Truck Series: 2 starts
• K&N Pro Series: 63 starts, 9 wins, 34 top-5’s, 45 top-10’s, 10 poles

• AARON’S: Aaron’s carries only the best brand names in furniture, electronics, and appliances with a variety of flexible payment options. It’s really easy to “Own It” at Aaron’s with customers who are now pre-approved for up to $2,500 in merchandise – no credit needed. During Aaron’s 60th Anniversary Sale, for the first time in Aaron’s history, get 6 months same as cash on ANYTHING IN THE STORE! And lease select items at just $60 a month. See the full selection of $60 products at your local Aaron’s store or at Aarons.com/60.

• CREW CHIEF BILLY SCOTT: Scott began racing motorcycles as a 5-year-old and stock cars when he turned 15. He worked in the truck series as a mechanic before he returned to college to obtain an engineering degree. After graduating in 2005 Scott worked at Robert Yates Racing and began as an engineer at MWR in 2008. The 36-year-old served exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer before taking over crew chief duties in 2014.

• 55 CREW:

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FRIDAY, FEB. 27:

10-10:55 a.m..: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
11:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
1-2:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
2:30-5:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
5:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)

SATURDAY, FEB. 28:

9:10 a.m..: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
10:40 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
Noon-1:20 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
2 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 250, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)
5:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Hyundai Construction Equipment 200, FOX Sports 1 (Follow live)

SUNDAY, MARCH 1:

1 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, FOX (325 laps, 500.5 miles) (Follow live)

– See more at: http://www.michaelwaltrip.com/news?n_id=546#sthash.WwMTPrWc.dpuf