NASCAR Truck Series: Alex Tagliani to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Mosport
By Asher Fair
Alex Tagliani is set to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Truck Series round of 8 playoff race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
NASCAR Pinty’s Series driver and former CART/Champ Car and IndyCar driver Alex Tagliani is set to return to the Truck Series for the third consecutive year to compete in the race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
The 45-year-old Canadian is set to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports in this 64-lap race, the Chevrolet Silverado 250, around the 10-turn, 2.459-mile (3.957-kilometer) Canadian Tire Motorsport Park road course in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. He is set to be sponsored by three Canadian companies: CanTorque, Spectra Premium and RONA.
Here is what Tagliani had to say about this opportunity, according to NBC Sports.
"“It’s a real honor to represent KBM by driving the 51 truck, I really appreciate Kyle and the entire team’s trust in giving me the opportunity to try to win. Carrying three Canadian companies to support the initiative at CTMP is really special. CanTorque showcasing their new tools made in Canada, driving a KBM truck equipped with a Spectra Premium Radiator and having lucky fans living a special behind-the-scenes experience feels really unique.”"
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The 2011 Indianapolis 500 polesitter has made four previous starts in the Truck Series, and all of them have come at this track. He drove for Brad Keselowski Racing in 2014 and 2015 before driving for Young’s Motorsports in 2017 and 2018.
Now Tagliani is set to have what should be his best ride yet, as he is set to drive the #51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. The #51 Toyota is currently tied for the lead of the owner standings with 15 of the season’s 23 races having been completed. The truck with which it is tied, the #98 ThorSport Racing Ford, is driven solely by Grant Enfinger and has not visited victory lane at all this year.
Five different drivers have driven the #51 Toyota this season, and two of them have combined to win six races. Team owner Kyle Busch drove the truck in five races, and he won all five of them, while Greg Biffle drove it in one and won it.
Tagliani finished in 16th, fifth, 19th and 10th place in his four previous Truck Series starts at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, giving him an average finish of 12.50. He did win the race at the track in the Pinty’s Series last year.
Through the first seven races of the 13-race 2019 Pinty’s Series season, Tagliani sits in fourth place in the championship standings with a victory, the ninth of his career, at Exhibition Place.
Tagliani has also competed in eight races, all road course races, in the Xfinity Series, although he hasn’t driven in the series since the 2016 season when he drove for Team Penske at Road America. He has recorded career-high finishes of second place on three occasions, all driving for Team Penske, at three different tracks. He did so at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
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The Chevrolet Silverado 250 is the second of three races in the first of three rounds, the round of 8, of the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series playoffs, and it is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 25. This race is set to be broadcast live from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.