(WOMR file photo)
Turner Motorsports, along with Great Clips, Inc., announced Monday that Kasey Kahne will increase his time behind the wheel of the #38 Great Clips Chevrolet in 2012 to compete in 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series events. In addition to Kasey Kane piloting the Turner Motorsports #38 Great Clips Chevy, Kahne’s midget/sprint car protege, and employee at Kasey Kahne Racing, will be included into the driver package.
Brad Sweet, who has competed on a limited basis in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the last two years and in the USAC Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Series for Kasey Kahne Racing for the last four seasons, will make a run for the Rookie of the Year title and will round out the balance of the 33-race NNS schedule when Kahne is not behind the wheel.
Following in the footsteps of his mentor and boss, Kasey Kahne, Sweet made a name for himself in the national open-wheel racing circuits. After being tapped to drive for KKR in 2008 by Kahne, Sweet won the Belleville Midget Nationals, the Knoxville Midget Nationals and both the Sprint Car and Midget “Four Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway.
“I have had such a long-standing relationship with Great Clips and it’s been great teaming back up with them again,” says Kahne. “They gave me my first real shot in this sport and that is something I have never forgotten.”
For his part, Sweet is ready to jump into this next phase of his career and is grateful for the support of Great Clips, Turner Motorsports and Kahne.
“I can’t begin to say how excited and grateful I am for this opportunity to compete in the Nationwide Series and to join Kasey in representing Great Clips both on and off the track,” says Sweet. “Turner Motorsports is a first class organization with equipment capable of contending for wins week in and week out. I don’t think I could be in a better position to take the next step in my racing career.”
As a side note, if you check out the photos of Kasey Kahne Racing’s sprint cars and midgets, you will notice that Great Clips has aligned itself as a sponsor for KKR for the 2012 race season, as well.
After watching Brad Sweet race in the World of Outlaw sprint car series for KKR, it is my opinion that this young man could be a factor in the NASCAR circuit within the next three or four years, provided that he is placed into good equipment. It also appears that Kahne is keeping Sweet under his tutelage, trying to secure, and direct Brad in his fledgling NASCAR career. That can only be a positive for Sweet!
Therefore, with this announcement from Turner Motorsports, it would appear that they are getting a two-fer! This announcement comes with one well-seasoned winning veteran, and a very capable, up and coming, young hot-shoe as a package deal!
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
