Latest News
NELSON PIQUET JR. MAKES HIS TURNER MOTORSPORTS DEBUT
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 20, 2011) – Following the announcement he was moving to Turner Motorsports for the 2012 racing season, Nelson Piquet Jr. made his debut with the team in this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season finale event. In only his second-ever Nationwide Series race, Piquet Jr. battled a tight-handling race car to bring home a 24th-place finish. Slated to compete for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship with the powerhouse organization, he will return to the seat of one of Turner Motorsports Nationwide Series entries next season for a partial racing schedule.
After wrapping up his rookie pursuit in the NCWTS on Friday night, Piquet Jr. was ready to battle with the stars of the Nationwide Series for 200 circuits around the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway. Starting from the 35th position, Piquet Jr. weathered several early cautions to be in the 29th position when the scheduled competition caution was displayed on lap 35.With his young driver reporting a very tight-handling condition from the middle of the corner and off, veteran crew chief Stewart Cooper called the No. 30 Chevrolet to pit road and instructed the Turner Motorsports crew to change four tires, pack the car full of fuel and make wedge and spring rubber adjustments. The fast stop by the crew got Piquet Jr. back on the track in the 26th position for the impending restart.
Still plagued by the tight-handling condition, Cooper had two more chances to bring Piquet Jr. down pit road for tires and heavy adjustments over the next 100 laps. With the adjustments just barely improving the No. 30 car’s handling condition, Piquet Jr. battled hard inside the top-25 for position. Learning the ins and outs of the Nationwide Series car, the 26-year-old native of Brazil continued to make gains as he circled the track.
Reporting he made contact with the outside retaining wall on lap 171, a well timed caution on lap 174 gave Cooper a chance to bring Piquet Jr. to pit road and survey the damage. As he slid into his pit box, the crew reported there was very little damage to the right side and quickly went to work changing four tires, adding fuel and making track bar and wedge adjustments. Remaining inside the top-25 for the remaining 25 laps, Piquet Jr. brought his Bienvenidos a NASCAR Chevrolet home to a 24th-place finish.
“I learned a lot in the Nationwide car. I would really like to thank Steve Turner for giving me the opportunity to get into the No. 30 this weekend. I am looking forward to working with everyone at Turner Motorsports next season and I know we are going to have a great year,” said Piquet Jr.