Lia Lands NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ride
Daytona Beach, FL — Following his 2007 breakthrough season that culminated with his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, Donny Lia has secured a ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2008 with TRG Motorsports.
Lia, a native of Jericho, N.Y., will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Buckler and TRG Motorsports. In five full seasons on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Lia collected 11 wins – including six in 2007. Lia was the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2003.
“I think it is a great opportunity,” Lia said. “TRG Motorsports is a name that might not be too recognizable in NASCAR, but when it comes to road racing, they’re right at the top. They’ve been in the business for 15 years now and they’ve won numerous championships in the road racing side of motorsports.”
Lia will join Andy Lally in the TRG Motorsports stable for 2008. Lally, who drives the No. 7, made three starts in the series a year ago.
“They’re building a great foundation on the NASCAR side with the truck team,” Lia said. “They started late last year when they purchased Michael Waltrip’s truck team, and they’ve got great people here, so they’re definitely in it for the long haul.”
Lia drove twice in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2007. He finished 20th in the New Hampshire 200 at Loudon, and closed out the season with a 25th-place finish in the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Lia is not eligible to drive in the season-opening Chevy Silverado 250 in Daytona since required rookie testing at the track has already passed. Mike Bliss will be in the truck at Daytona. Lia will make his debut for TRG Motorsports at California Speedway in the San Bernardino 200 on Feb. 23, and is scheduled to run the remainder of the season.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR PR