Tayler Malsam is about to take another step up the racing ladder.
Malsam will make his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Aug. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
He will drive the No. 41 Dodge Ram for CHS Motorsports — a new team spun-off from Cunningham Motorsports — at a handful of additional races after Bristol. (Graphic shows concept art of what Malsam’s truck will look like)
The Sammamish, Wash., native — who now lives in Mill Creek, Wash. — had been driving a stock car in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for Cunningham Motorsports, in addition to racing in local and regional sprint car events for Rudeen Racing of Monroe, Wash.
A few months ago Cunningham was named the official driver development team for Penske Racing, making Malsam a part of the same organization that has more than 300 victories in various auto racing series, including an unprecedented 14 Indianapolis 500 wins and the 2008 Daytona 500.
Earlier this week, Malsam and his father, Steve Malsam, spent some time in meetings and touring the 325,000-square foot Penske Racing shops in Mooresville, N.C.
To help recognize the Pacific Northwest and let the nation know where he is from, Malsam’s truck will make its NASCAR debut carrying the graphics of the Hydroplane &Raceboat Museum in Kent, Wash.
The Hydroplane &Raceboat Museum is the nation’s only public museum dedicated solely to powerboat racing and it is a place special to seven-time national champion hydroplane racer Chip Hanauer, who is helping Malsam off the track.
Fire-Down Graphics of Monroe, Wash., which has a longstanding association with Malsam, will be an associate sponsor.
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