Beyond the Flag
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NASCAR: Should underfunded teams such as BK Racing target young drivers?

By Tyler Callaway

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the #23 Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the #23 Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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FONTANA, CA – MARCH 17: Ryan Truex, driver of the #11 Bar Harbor/Sea Watch International Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FONTANA, CA – MARCH 17: Ryan Truex, driver of the #11 Bar Harbor/Sea Watch International Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Ryan Truex

At age 17, Ryan Truex found himself signing a development contract with Michael Waltrip Racing and getting ready to start a racing dynasty with his older brother Martin.

He started his NASCAR career in the K&N Pro Series East, where he won the series championship two years in a row with five wins, 15 top 5 finishes, and 17 top 10 finishes in just 21 starts combined in those two seasons, which would be an amazing start to anyone’s racing career.

In 2011, Truex was promoted to the Xfinity Series, where he was only granted 11 races before Michael Waltrip Racing released him from his contract due to lack of sponsorship. This also came during Michael Waltrip Racing’s decline and eventual shutdown.

He finished out the season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He finished his first Xfinity Series season with one top 5 finish and five top 10 finishes in 17 starts and an average finish of 16.4.

Truex found himself without a full-time ride for three years from 2011 to 2013. In 2012, he took part-time work in the Xfinity Series, where he recorded four top 10 finishes in 11 starts. This went on until BK Racing came calling in 2014.

Truex’s situation was a bit more understandable than Alex Bowman’s was. Truex struggled to latch on to a team after Michael Waltrip Racing let him go. He had a chance for a full-time ride, and while I still consider it a mistake, he took his only opportunity for consistent work.

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