Carmichael signs to drive for Turner Motorsports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Turner Motorsports has announced Ricky Carmichael has signed a multi-year contract with the organization to drive the No. 31 Chevrolet in the final two Camping World Truck Series races of the 2009 season and full time in 2010.

In an effort to gain maximum seat time, Carmichael also will compete in 10 ARCA Re/Max Series races throughout the 2010 season.

Carmichael

"I'm very excited about having the opportunity to compete full time in the Truck Series next season for Turner Motorsports," Carmichael said. "To compete every week and gain as much seat time as possible is the only way that I will be able to get better as a driver.

"The Truck Series is a great place to learn and the racing is very competitive, no matter which track we go to. On top of the Truck schedule next year, we will run 10 ARCA races and possibly some Nationwide Series races which will give me some extra time in these stock cars. The two races that we will run this year at Phoenix and Homestead will definitely give us a chance to start getting everything ready for 2010 and I'm pumped about the future."

Carmichael, 29, made his Truck Series debut this season and has two top-10s in 16 races for Kevin Harvick Inc. The former motocross champion made the switch from two wheels to four in 2007, competing in a partial schedule in the Florida FASCAR Series before joining Ken Schrader Racing in the NASCAR Camping World East Series the following year.

"To have a driver with as much talent as Ricky is something that every owner wants to have," Turner Motorsports co-owner Steve Turner said. "Ricky has accomplished a lot in his motocross career and he has the determination and passion to have just as much success in his stock-car career. It's an exciting addition for our Turner Motorsports team and the two races this season will give us a head start heading into 2010."

Turner Motorsports made its series debut this past weekend at Texas, with driver Scott Wimmer capturing a 13th-place finish. The newly formed Truck team had been competing on a part-time basis in the USARacing Pro Cup Series.