Catchfence

Red Bull Racing Team

Red Bull Racing Team will guide Cole Whitt out of his open-wheel comfort zone and into the world of stock cars, as the 18-year-old development driver will contend for the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota.

“Cole has been a successful part of the Red Bull motorsports program and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with him this year,” said RBRT’s Elton Sawyer, who will oversee Whitt’s development program. “He’s a very talented young driver and is eager to learn what it takes to advance to the next level of his career.”

A Red Bull athlete since 2004 and open-wheel phenom since he was 8, Whitt will make his stock car debut in the East Series’ season opener March 27 at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

“I like racing so much and I have a blast with it,” Whitt said. “I’ve always been in love with racing and I’m really excited about being here and working with the Red Bull Racing Team. I have a lot to learn, but I’m confident that with hard work and valuable seat time it will pay off and I’ll reach my dream of being a successful NASCAR driver.”

Whitt has already seen success in the upper ranks of the United States Auto Club. In 2008, Whitt, then 17, won the National Midget title to become USAC’s youngest champion. A year later, he finished second in the National Sprint Car standings and sixth in midgets. On the local and national levels in 2009, he won a combined 17 races in 80-some starts on asphalt and dirt.

Most recently, Whitt finished second in January’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals — the Daytona 500 of midget racing.

+ 2010 NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST SCHEDULE

Race  Date        Track                         Site

1     March 27    Greenville-Pickens Speedway   Greenville, S.C.
2     April 3     South Boston Speedway         South Boston, Va.
3     May 23      Iowa Speedway                 Newton, Iowa
4     June 6      Martinsville Speedway         Martinsville, Va.
5     June 25     New Hampshire Motor Speedway  Loudon, N.H.
6     July 3      Lime Rock Park                Lime Rock, Conn.
7     July 30     Lee USA Speedway              Lee, N.H.
8     Aug. 28     Gresham Motorsports Park      Jefferson, Ga.
9     Sept. 17    New Hampshire Motor Speedway  Loudon, N.H.
10    Sept. 24    Dover International Speedway  Dover, Del.

- Red Bull Racing Team, Press Release