Thankful of the opportunity created by the NASCAR Mexico Series and his great results in his short career, Ruben Garcia Jr. has been called in and asked by SR2 Motorsport to drive the #24 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series during the events this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The teenager has run full time in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series for the past two seasons, winning the Aguascalientes 240 in May of 2013.
Garcia Jr. is working hard to follow in his father, Ruben Garcia’s footsteps. Garcia Sr. made nine NASCAR Sprint Cup starts in the 80’s, all at Riverside Speedway. He also made 44 starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West from 1979 to 1988, winning two races, both at Mesa Marin in 1985.
In 2013, Ruben made his first career start at Phoenix International Raceway, starting 11th and finishing 3rd. Garcia Jr. notched three top-fives and eleven top-ten finishes during the 2013 season, finishing third in the final NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series points standings.
Ruben Jr. is the most surprised of any that at only 18 years of age he has been able to arrive at this great opportunity. “I can’t believe this is finally happening, it seems like it’s all a dream,” stated Garcia Jr. “I know and fully understand that I must take everything in a calm and responsible manner during the race weekend. My biggest goals right now is to enter and finish the race and attain as much time behind the steering wheel as I can. I know that the results will come with time.”
Randy MacDonald, a former driver that has owned and managed his own NASCAR team, was very surprised with Ruben Jr. last year at Phoenix International Raceway in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series in which he placed 3rd representing the colors of HDI Seguros/ Grupo Imagen, which then brought Randy now to consider Ruben Jr. for this opportunity.
Ruben has had to go through the various processes to gain the acceptance from the directors of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. His previous experience in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Racing Series has allowed for Brett Bodine to accept and present Ruben Jr. with a license to compete in the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 this Saturday.
Fans can keep up with Ruben in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway with the race airing live on ABC at 3:30PM EST.
Fans can also keep up to date with everything at SR2 Motorsports on Facebook, twitter @sr2motorsports or on our website at www.sr2motorsports.com.
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