GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => F1 Drivers => Topic started by: cosworth151 on September 21, 2007, 03:57:10 PM
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Former Toro Rosso driver and Red Bull test driver Scott Speed is going into Red Bull's US stock car effort. This came up on the web site of ARCA, a minor league racing series:
"Team Red Bull and Eddie Sharp Racing have announced that former Formula One Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed will drive the No. 21 Red Bull Toyota in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 5, 2007. This will mark Speed's debut in stock car racing.
"I come from a completely different world of racing, so there's no doubt it's going to be a challenge learning how these cars handle, but I'm ready to get out there and see what I've got!" said Speed.
Speed's connection with Red Bull dates back to 2002, when he won the Red Bull Driver Search, a program aimed at putting an American talent into Formula One. With Red Bull backing, Speed raced his way through the European ranks and into a full-time seat in 2006 at Red Bull Racing's sister team, Scuderia Toro Rosso. After parting ways during the 2007 season, Speed turned his attention to landing a Red Bull-backed drive in the States.
In an effort to hone and adapt Speed's skills from F1 to stock car racing, Red Bull tapped what is arguably the best ARCA team in the field, Eddie Sharp Racing. Speed's inaugural stock car race will have him paired with a well-established ARCA team with high-caliber equipment and the personnel to support his climb through the stock car ranks. With Red Bull backing and the strong team support of Eddie Sharp Racing, Speed will have the best of both worlds."
This looks like they want to get Speed some seat time in stock cars before moving him up to NASCAR. Many ARCA races run on the undercard of NASCAR events. The October 5th event is a Friday warm-up for a Sunday NASCAR cup race. It will be on Speed Channel from 5pm to 8pm on the 5th.
I hope Scott does well. I think he's he's a better driver than he's gotten to show.
Cos