In an unexpected and glancing blow, Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) has had a major shakeup in its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operations Wednesday afternoon.
According to multiple sources, including actual team members at Turner Scott Motorsports, the three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams fielded by TMS would be on hiatus as of 3:00 p.m., but three hours later, two of the three teams were bound for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. All, but apparently the No. 30 TSM team with driver Ron Hornaday Jr.
CATCHFENCE.com reported Wednesday afternoon that Kennedy’s team would likely compete in Sunday afternoon’s Chevrolet Silverado 250 from CTMP, but Hayley and Hornaday Jr (allegedly) would not. Since that report, a statement Wednesday evening from co-owner Harry Scott Jr. says that Kennedy will complete, as well Cameron Hayley, who will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut Sunday.
“Turner Scott Motorsports remains in operation and will compete in this weekend’s NASCAR events,” said TSM co-owner Harry Scott Jr. “TSM’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race teams represented by the No. 42 driven by Kyle Larson and the No. 31 driven by Dylan Kwasniewski will complete this weekend as scheduled at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“The No. 31 driven by Ben Kennedy and the No. 32 driven by Cameron Hayley in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will compete as scheduled at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this coming Sunday.
“My investment company, a co-owner of TSM, will continue to do all that it can to keep the team moving forward with or without our business partner Steve Turner. To all TSM employees, sponsors, partners and fans I pledge we will continue to do what we can to keep the teams racing hard each and every week of the season.”
Hornaday Jr. is currently fourth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings on the heels of two consecutive podium finishes at Michigan International Speedway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway respectively. Entering Canada, the four-time NCWTS champion has five top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes, including four straight top-10 finishes, anchored by a season-best second at Eldora Speedway last month.
Steve Turner started Turner Scott Motorsports on a limited basis in 2009 and expanded to two full-time teams in 2010. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based organization won the NCWTS title in 2012 with James Buescher. In January 2013, the organization announced that Harry Scott Jr. was taking an expanded role with the company and it was renamed to Turner Scott Motorsports.
In five seasons of operations, Turner Scott Motorsports has won 11 NCWTS races, most recently at Iowa Speedway with James Buescher last year.
The future status of the No. 31 team of Kennedy and the No. 32 driven this weekend by Hayley is unknown following the 14th race of the season.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
