Turner Motorsports hires Nelson Piquet Jr for 2012

Nelson Piquet Jr.

The 2011 racing season may be coming to a close, but Turner Motorsports already has an eye on the 2012 season. The organization is pleased to announce the addition of Nelson Piquet Jr to their 2012 driver line up. Piquet Jr, who will compete for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship, is also slated to run a limited NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) schedule for the team. Before taking the wheel in 2012, he will make his debut with the team in this weekend’s NNS season finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the #30 Chevrolet Impala.

Coming to Turner Motorsports for his sophomore year of Camping World Truck Series competition, Piquet Jr brings with him a rich racing heritage. The son of three-time Formula One World Champion, Nelson Piquet, Piquet Jr began racing karts at 8-years-old in his native Brazil. Making his way through the open-wheel racing ranks in South America and Europe, he made his Formula One debut in 2008 before making the transition to NASCAR in 2010. Currently engaged in a fierce battle for the 2011 NCWTS Rookie of the Year honors, Piquet Jr has recorded four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 24 starts this season.

The 26-year-old driver is thrilled to have the opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s highest levels with Turner Motorsports.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to come to Turner Motorsports in 2012. They are one of the top organizations in our sport and are proven winners. I know we will be in the hunt for the Camping World Truck Series championship and I will gain invaluable experience behind the wheel of the Nationwide Series car. I want to thank Steve Turner and everyone at Turner Motorsports and I know 2012 will bring great things for me and my new team," Piquet Jr said.

Adding another young driver to his roster, team owner Steve Turner, reaffirms his commitment to helping drivers solidly establish their careers with his organization.

“Turner Motorsports prides itself on cultivating young talent. One of our main objectives is to give drivers a platform to showcase their abilities to help propel them to NASCAR’s highest level. Nelson brings a significant amount of experience and depth to our driver line up. He also brings a strong international fan base to our program. I am confident he will compete for both race wins and the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship."