MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Six-time NTT IndyCar Series winner James Hinchcliffe will make his NASCAR debut Feb. 28 in the inaugural NASCAR Cratsman Truck Series race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Hinchcliffe, an Ontario, native and 2011 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, will pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street course, the site of his first IndyCar victory in 2013.
He’s the second former Indy car driver to be named to a ride for the event, as three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti will drive for TRICON Garage.
Delaware Life will serve as the team’s primary sponsor for the Craftsman Truck Series inaugural visit to the “Streets of St. Pete.”
“I am super excited to run my first truck race at St. Pete,” said Hinchcliffe. “When they announced the trucks would be running there, I knew I had to try to make something happen because I just love this track and I have always wanted to try something in the NASCAR world. I have been in the Spire family for a long time, so it just made sense to run with them. I can’t thank Dan (Towriss), Jeff (Dickerson), Bill (Anthony) – really everyone at Spire – enough for making this come together.
“It will be a baptism of fire,” Hinchcliffe continued. “Having my first race in a truck being on a street course with no room for error, but these races always look like so much fun, so I am really looking forward to the opportunity. Plus, I love that it’s going to be shown on FOX Sports, with some of my IndyCar colleagues joining the broadcast, so that should add an extra layer of fun to it.”
“James had an amazing open-wheel career with wins and poles across all kinds of formulas, but I’m not even sure he’s ever watched a NASCAR race.” quipped Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson. “I know it means a little more to (Co-Owner) Dan (Towriss) and I, personally, to be able to do this with him and when he called Dan and wanted to give it a go it seemed right on brand for all of us. This definitely won’t be the first time we’ve been out on a ledge together. We’re all really grateful to Delaware Life for coming along for the ride and giving us a weekend to remember.”
