Brian Deegan, a 10-time X-Games freestyle motocross medalist, has signed on with NTS Motorsports in hopes of climbing the NASCAR ladder all the way up to the Cup Series.
"Racing is something I’ve done since I was a little kid," Deegan said in a news conference Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Freestyle motocross has gotten me away from racing and I missed it. I feel like the motocross background, like Jimmie Johnson has, is going to help me." " I’m not going to come in [to a series] if I’m not ready and I’ll take my time in getting here. I’m excited to be here. " -- BRIAN DEEGAN
Deegan will begin his NASCAR career in June at TOYOTA Speedway in the Super Late Model race. He will remain in late models with a goal of moving up to the Camping World West Series by the Phoenix race in November.
After that, the timetables are off and it comes down to comfort level.
"My goal is to do everything right," Deegan said. "The goal is to take it at my pace."
Deegan will partner with Brennan Newberry as drivers for the two-car NTS Motorsports team. Bob Newberry, NTS Motorsports owner, said Brennan will help teach Deegan the ropes while Brennan works on his own career.
"Brennan and Brian are on a path to the Cup Series, so what we are trying to do is accelerate Brian with Brennan’s guidance," Newberry said. "Do we have a timeframe? We don’t. If it takes us a year to get there, perfect; if it takes us two years, then that’s what the timeframe is going to be. But I promise, whenever we go somewhere, we are going to be ready. We aren’t going to go somewhere where [Deegan] is racing over his ability because that makes no sense for any of us."
Deegan brings some experience racing on four-wheels. He currently runs in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and is currently in the top-three in points. Deegan also brings something to NASCAR other teams are struggling with -- sponsors. Metal Mulisha, an apparel line Deegan co-founded, is on as primary sponsor, and joined by mysmokinride.com and Fountain Powerboats.
Unlike Carmichael, Deegan isn’t on the fast-path to NASCAR stardom. NTS Motorsports is going to take its time developing Deegan and he is OK with that plan.
"I’m not going to come in [to a series] if I’m not ready and I’ll take my time in getting here. I’m excited to be here," Deegan said. "Trust me, my goal is to be here racing and I’m going to do whatever it takes.
"Ricky Carmichael, I give him credit, he was the best on a dirt bike. I do action sports, I back flip dirt bikes, something different. I’ve kept my eye on him in Truck racing but I feel like I come in with more four-wheel experience and hopefully that will put me on a different level."
By Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/truck/05/29/bdeegan.NTS.Motorsports.NASCAR.Cup.move.Charlotte/index.html?eref=/news/headlines/truck
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