STATESVILLE, N.C. — CR7 Motorsports owner Codie Rohrbaugh announced Thursday that the team will field the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado for the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule with driver Blaine Perkins.
The 21-year-old Perkins has signed a one-year driver agreement with the team.
“This is pretty special,” Perkins said. “This is my first full-time season in any of NASCAR’s top-tier series. I am looking forward to getting into the Chevrolet Silverado this year at CR7 Motorsports. We are going to have a good year.”
Perkins made his NASCAR debut last March at Phoenix Raceway. In 2021, the Bakersfield, Calif., native competed in eight NASCAR Xfinity Series events with Our Motorsports.
“I am always looking forward to the short tracks,” Perkins said. “That is where I grew up racing – at the half-mile and quarter-mile tracks. Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway will be fun. And road racing, I love road racing as well.
“The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has a very diverse group of tracks. Even the dirt tracks – I have never driven a stock car on dirt, so I will definitely be working on that a lot. But I know we are going to be fast when it comes to racing there. It is really going to be fun to run all these different types of tracks.”
In addition, the accomplished driver has five starts in the ARCA Menards Series and 40 starts in the ARCA Menards Series West. He is a three-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion.
“I have high expectations for the upcoming season,” Rohrbaugh said. “Grant (Enfinger) provided CR7 Motorsports a very solid foundation that we can continue to build from. Blaine (Perkins) will have to learn how the Chevrolet Silverados drive compared to the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars. He will have all the tools around him to be successful – a good crew chief, GMS Racing support, and good Chevrolet Silverados. I really look forward to next season, and, hopefully, making a Playoff- run.”
Rohrbaugh spent four years as a driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Petersburg, W.Va., native has 36 starts in the series, including two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes. In addition, he is a veteran of the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour.
In 2016, Rohrbaugh founded CR7 Motorsports, based in Statesville, N.C. CR7 Motorsports boasts six years of ARCA Menards Series competition with drivers Jason Kitzmiller, and Rohrbaugh, collecting 10 top-10 finishes. The team also has three top-five finishes, and eight top-ten finishes in 48 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, CR7 Motorsports has had three drivers; Grant Enfinger, Colby Howard, and Rohrbaugh.
The upcoming NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season will mark the team’s first full-time season of competition with one driver.
“I think it is a big opportunity for CR7 Motorsports,” Rohrbaugh said. “It gives the crew, and Blaine the opportunity to learn and work together, and get that much better every weekend.”
Doug George, who joined the organization in 2019, will remain the crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado for Perkins.
George has previously manned the helm for drivers Aric Almirola, John Andretti, Kyle Busch, Ricky Carmichael, Denny Hamlin, Ron Hornaday, Jr., Mark Martin and Mike Skinner. As a crew chief he has also experience in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Perkins also has a special connection to the Hornaday family. Candice Hornaday and Ron Hornaday Jr. have both provided valuable guidance and support to him during his racing career.
“This year is about learning from one of the best truck drivers of all time, Ron Hornaday Jr.,” Perkins said. “Having Ron in my corner coaching me through my first year in the truck series is invaluable. I mean, who gets to say they have a Hall of Fame driver advise them? I’m so humbled by these opportunities.”