DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite ongoing legal battles, BK Racing plans to compete in next Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with NASCAR Next alumnus Gray Gaulding at the wheel.
The team announced the driver through their Twitter page Saturday morning.
Gaulding, a native of Colonial Heights, Va. will celebrate his 20th birthday Saturday practicing for the “Great American Race.”
The former NASCAR K&N Pro Series West winner has 29 career starts in Cup, earning a career-best ninth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last Oct. also driving for BK Racing. The Daytona 500 will be Gaulding’s first attempt at the “World Center of Racing.”
“I can’t believe it,” Gaulding told CATCHFENCE.com. “It’s a dream come true. I’m running the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. It proves never give up. If there’s one thing that I can pass along to every racer out there is never up on your dreams because I am running the Daytona 500, a small-town kid from Colonial Heights, Virginia.”
BK Racing general manager Ryan Dubois confirmed to CATCHFENCE.com, they have secured a motor from Race Engines Plus for the season-opening race on Feb. 18.
A sponsor for Gaulding’s car has not been named.
BK Racing has been in somewhat turmoil for the past year, including a tug-of-war with Union Bank & Trust over the ownership of the No. 23 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series charter.
A hearing whether Union Bank would be appointed the charter has been postponed until Feb. 15. A temporary restraining order remains in effect that keeps majority owner Ron Devine selling assets or his charter.
Union Bank says BK Racing owes more than $8M in unpaid loans and fees.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
