Nelson Piquet Jr. is expected to practice the No. 5 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra for Wauters Motorsports next Friday at Gateway (Ill.) Motorsports Park, CATCHFENCE.com has learned.
Piquet Jr. will shake down the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ride for John Wes Townley, who will fulfill his other full-time racing endeavor in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards piloting the No. 15 Zaxby’s Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports at Michigan International Speedway.
Townley is expected to arrive at Gateway on Saturday to participate in the final practice session in addition to knockout qualifying and the race. If however, ARCA’s race is impacted by inclement weather, Piquet Jr. is expected to remain in the seat.
Townley is embracing a similar situation this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, just in a reversal role.
While the Watkinsville, Georgia native is practicing, qualifying and racing his NCWTS truck at TMS, former ARCA winner Brennan Poole is behind the wheel of his Venturini Motorsports automobile at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for practice and time trials.
Weather is not expected to be an issue Friday night for the WinStar World Resort & Casino 400k, which means the 24-year old should not encounter any travel issues, but will start Saturday afternoon’s Pocono ARCA 200 from the rear of the field.
Piquet Jr., 28, competed in two truck events in 2013 driving for Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) and NTS Motorsports respectively. He also competed in rookie of the year honors (’13) in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with TSM, but did not continue that association in 2014, instead concentrating on a full-time effort in Global Rallycross with SH Racing. The former Formula 1 driver has two career NCWTS triumphs in 2012 at Michigan International Speedway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, also with TSM.
Townley timed in 12th and seventh quickest overall in both practice sessions at the 1.5-mile TMS oval on Thursday afternoon and evening.
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