Team BKR 2015 Lineup Set
With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit just over a month away from kicking off its 2015 season, Brad Keselowski Racing announced on Tuesday that it has set its team lineup for the 2015 slate.
Once again, Team BKR will field two full-time truck entries. BK will be the part-time pilot for his No. 29 Ford, which will carry Cooper Standard, and its Careers For Veterans program, as its primary sponsor for the 23-race season. Meanwhile, Team BKR’s No. 19 Ford F-150 will be sponsored by Broken Bow Records and Cequent Performance, represented by Draw-Tite, Reese and Bulldog brands.
“I feel extremely fortunate to have Cooper Standard, Broken Bow Records and Cequent Performance partner with Brad Keselowski Racing again in 2015,” Brad said. “Together we are a team in every sense of the word and I’m looking forward to a successful season.”
Cooper Standard, Broken Bow Records and Cequent Performance will all return as Team BKR sponsors for 2015.
Tyler Reddick will take over full time behind the wheel of the No. 19. The 18-year-old made 16 starts in 2014 and amassed nine Top-10 finishes while capturing two pole awards. He notched fourth-place finishes at Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway. Six of his Top 10s came in his final eight starts of the season. He’ll once again have Doug Randolph running the No. 19 crew.
“The way we closed out the 2014 season was quite a statement for us as a team,” Reddick said. “We were able to do some really good things toward the end of the year. It was a great way to end the season and keep the momentum rolling into 2015 as we compete for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. It’s great to work with everyone at Cequent and Broken Bow Records again this coming season. I can’t wait to get started.”
The full-time No. 19 driver for 2015, Tyler Reddick finished the 2014 season on a string of six Top 10s in eight starts.
Reddicks’ full-time gig in the No. 19 means a switch to the No. 29 for Brad’s part-time gig in his truck. Ryan Blaney will also run part-time in the 29 after driving the Cooper Standard F-150 to a runner-up finish in the Truck series last season. Blaney talled 16 Top-10 finishes and one win on the Truck circuit in 2014, including Top-10 results in each of his last seven starts. Brad and Blaney will be joined in the 29 rotation by 2014 Sprint Cup Championship qualifier Joey Logano and up-and-comer Austin Theriault. Chad Kendrick will be back as the chief of the Cooper Standard crew.
Theriault will return after spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a developmental driver for Team BKR. The Fort Kent, Maine native previously ran as a driver in the Southern Super Late Model Series, while also working full-time in the BKR shop. The 20-year-old will run the bulk of the schedule for the No. 29 team, competing in 13 of the 23 races.
“I’m really, really excited to be coming back to BKR,” Theriault said. “I’m coming back to where I started as a part of the late model development program. It’s huge for me to be behind the wheel of the Cooper Standard Ford F-150. I’m looking forward to sharing this truck and soaking up as much information as I can from them and being a better driver. BKR is so strong and to be a part of this organization is a humbling opportunity for me.”
Austin Theriault ran three Xfinity Series races last year and will pilot the No. 29 for 13 events this season.
BK shares the enthusiasm of his young drivers. It has long been Brad’s belief that strong developmental programs, particularly in the Camping World Truck and Xfinity Series, pave the way for future Sprint Cup Series success—and he is anxious to see continued development from both Reddick and Theriault.
“One of the things I wanted to do at BKR is give talented young drivers an opportunity,” Keselowski said. “Both Tyler and Austin are perfect examples of what I’m trying to accomplish. We saw a lot of improvement with Tyler in 2014. He really stepped up his game during the second half of the season and I certainly think he can compete for wins and challenge for a championship in 2015. Austin was part of our driver development program so for him to have an opportunity to drive for us in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is pretty special.”
The 2015 Camping World Truck Series season kicks off on February 20th with the Nextera Energy Resources 250 at Daytona.
Sources: Alex Sims/Team BKR