Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the #12 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, sits in his car in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 15, 2013
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
The latest move of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series Silly Season comes as an announcement from Joe Gibbs Racing indicating Sam Hornish Jr is sharing seat time in the No. 54 with Kyle Busch in the Nationwide Series for the 2014 season.
“I’m excited about driving the #54 Monster Energy car this year. It’s a great opportunity for me,” said Hornish. “It’s the best possible situation for me to jump into great equipment and have the opportunity to go out and win. After working with Penske for ten years and now to have the opportunity to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. These are great people, top notch. To partner with Kyle and all this team provides, with the support of Joe and J.D., it provides me with everything I need to succeed. It’s also a phenomenal opportunity for me to partner with a market leader such as Monster Energy. The brand identity and fan following that goes along with this sponsor is super. I can’t wait to get into that car!”
Than plan for the No. 54 Monster Energy car to run a full season schedule with Adam Stevens as returning as crew chief. Kyle Busch will return to race in 26 races, while Hornish will fill the drivers’ seat in the remaining seven races.
“We’re excited to have someone of Sam’s caliber joining Kyle behind the wheel of the Monster Energy Camry this year,” said JD Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We think we have a great team there with Monster Energy and Sam will be an outstanding addition. “We lost our owners championship by just one point last year, so our focus will be on trying to get that title back in 2014.”
Hornish has spent the last two seasons driving the No. 12 car for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series. Last season, he recorded one win, 16 top-fives and 25 top-ten finishes and captured four pole awards. in 99 career starts, Hornish has two wins, 28 top-fives and 53 top-ten finishes. He also has made 130 career starts in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.
Hornish’s first race behind the wheel of the No. 54 car is May 3rd at Talladega. In addition, he will race both Iowa Speedway races, Road America, Chicagoland Speedway on July 19, Mid-Ohio and Kentucky Speedway on September 20th.