Braun Racing to compete in five Cup races in 2010

Team owner Todd Braun said his Braun Racing team will attempt five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races next year, including the season-opening Daytona 500. Braun, which fields three teams in the Nationwide Series, entered a Cup car for two races in 2005. The team plans to run a Toyota in 2010 while determining plans for 2011. "We're going to run some Cup races next year," Braun said. "What it holds on our future, we don't know. If I want to long-term survive in this sport, I'm going to have to go Cup racing at some point. I don't think I can maintain forever being a Nationwide-only guy unless something happens in the series that I don't see right now. I wish I could." Braun said he was happy with his team in the Nationwide Series but could need to move to Cup to survive financially. The driver will be determined, though Braun said his current Nationwide driver, Jason Leffler, is a candidate. Other candidates, he said, could be Reed Sorenson, Bobby Labonte or Jamie McMurray, depending on available Cup rides next year. Braun said he has a sponsor for the five Cup races, though he didn't name the company. He also prefers to hire a crew chief with experience working with the new model Cup car. SceneDaily