Catchfence

Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR)

CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota driver Brett Moffitt begins his chase for the K&N Pro Series East championship Saturday at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C. After finishing second in the 2010 standings, the 18-year-old driver joined MWR for the 2011 season. The team fielded the championship car for Ryan Truex in 2009 and 2010.

Moffitt is new to MWR, but not to the half-mile Greenville Pickens track. In 2009, the 16-year-old driver won the East race pole award making him the youngest pole winner among NASCAR’s touring series. The Grimes, Iowa native tested a Sprint Cup car for Toyota at the quarter-mile Little Rock Speedway in eastern North Carolina this month. The test came a week after the high school student moved to his new North Carolina town home.

QUOTES

Moffitt on racing at Greenville Pickens Speedway: “I really look forward to racing at Greenville Pickens this weekend. We went testing the other day and our car was really fast. We could get it to turn good in the middle and have plenty of forward drive off. We’re really looking forward to having a good run there.”

Moffitt on testing in a Cup car: “Last week Toyota gave me the opportunity to do my first Cup car test. That was a lot of fun having all of that power. At 120 mph you can still spin the rear tires, so it was different, but it was definitely a learning experience. It was a lot of fun for me personally, I learned a lot and I look forward to doing a lot more of it.”

Moffitt on chasing MWR’s third championship: “This season we’re running for Michael Waltrip Racing’s third consecutive championship in the East Series. I’m really glad I got the opportunity to work with these guys. I’m happy that Michael Waltrip and Ty (Norris) gave me this opportunity. I look forward to hopefully defending their title once more and picking up my first title in the series.”

Notes

· Moffitt joins crew chief Mike Greci who will bid for his fifth East Series title. Greci won titles with Truex in 2009 and 2010 and with Mike Stefanik in 1997 and 1998.

· Moffitt has steadily climbed the East championship standings finishing third in 2009 and second in 2010. He is looking to continue his progress by earning his first series championship in 2011.

· Moffitt owns two wins from the 2010 season and 6 top-five finishes. In 2009, he also earned two wins and six top-five finishes.

· In 2010, Moffitt became the first driver in East Series history to earn multiple wins at Dover International Speedway.

- Michael Waltrip Racing Press Release