Catchfence

Steve Turner has big plans for Turner Motorsports, which expanded its Camping World Truck Series operations to the Nationwide Series beginning this weekend when it was announced Friday that he had bought the four-car operation of Braun Racing.

“I want to run in the top five, and I want to win races,” Turner said Friday in a phone interview. “I expect that operation to run in the top five and win races starting with this weekend.

“I know it sounds like a lot, but we’re giving them the resources they need.”

The plans for the organization on the Nationwide Series side include replacing Brian Scott after this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway with Turner’s current Camping World Truck Series drivers Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher. Braun driver Tayler Malsam also will be phased out.

Carmichael will make his Nationwide debut next week at Kansas Speedway in the No. 10 car, which has been driven by Malsam. The driver for the No. 11 car next week is still to be determined to replace Scott, whom Turner said has told the team he was leaving at the end of the season to go with another team. Sources indicated that Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the teams Scott has talked with about a possible ride next year.

Scott is 13th in the series standings.

“He has a great opportunity to go forward and we could not hold him back and would not hold him back,” Turner said.

Jason Leffler and Reed Sorenson will keep their rides through the end of the year and it is possible they will remain with the team. Their sponsors, Great Clips and Dollar General, are expected to return next season.

- Scene Daily