NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) regular Ross Chastain has been offered a NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) ride this weekend at Michigan International Speedway for Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE), CATCHFENCE.com has learned.
Chastain will drive the No. 80 Toyota Camry for Shigeaki (Shige) Hattori, a former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. Chastain, who made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last month at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway for Viva Motorsports will pinch-hit for Johnny Sauter, who’s driven for Hattori Racing Enterprises in two NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.
“I think the word excited gets thrown around a lot in this sport these days, but heck yeah I’m really excited,” Chastain told CATCHFENCE.com. “Michigan opens up a whole new aspect of speed that I’ve never really experienced before. It’s cool how the dominoes have started to fall for me and my career and this is another step in the right direction.
“Laps on the racetrack are irreplaceable in this sport and that’s what I am lacking. Viva Motorsports gave me a great opportunity at Charlotte and running against Johnny (Sauter) and the HRE guys all day is what opened this door. I can’t thank Shige enough. He’s a true racer and it means that much more to mean that I’m in his car.”
Sauter was unable to commit to HRE for Saturday’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 because of his full-time truck responsibilities at Gateway (Ill.) Motorsports Park in the No. 98 Toyota Tundra for ThorSport Racing. Sauter is second in the championship standings, 11 points behind teammate Matt Crafton after six races.
Mooresville, North Carolina-based Hattori Racing Enterprises announced last month that the team would suspend operations of one of their two full-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series East program to concentrate on their Nationwide program. With the new direction, the team led by crew chief Bruce Cook is expected to compete in eight to 10 races in 2014.
Before being offered the ride for HRE, Chastain was originally slotted to practice the No. 5 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra for Wauters Motorsports in place of John Wes Townley, who will be competing in the Michigan ARCA 200 for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at MIS. However, because of Chastain’s newest opportunity, former NCWTS winner Nelson Piquet Jr. (click link for story) will now fill that void.
“I just want to go out there and have a good solid productive day,” Chastain added. “I know that the HRE team is going to give me a good car and I’m looking forward to bringing them a good finish on Saturday.”
While no sponsor has been mentioned for Chastain, it’s likely that Goodyear of Japan will return as the primary marketing partner for the team’s third race of 2014.
Sauter finished 28th in the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway after qualifying ninth. He bettered that effort with a 16th place run in the HISTORY 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on May 24.
It also has been rumored that Chastain could be offered more races with the organization based on his Michigan performance. He has one prior NCWTS start at the 2.0-mile oval in 2012 for Green Light SS Racing, where he finished 18th.
Editor’s Note: Hattori Racing Enterprises informed CATCHFENCE.com on Monday afternoon that AISIN, a parts manufacturer for Toyota will be the primary sponsor of the No. 80 Toyota Camry for Chastain and the team at Michigan International Speedway.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
