Ex-major league ballplayer Mike Greenwell will make his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Mansfield later this month. Credit: Autostock

Ex-ballplayer Greenwell to make Truck debut

Two-time Major League All-Star Mike Greenwell will make his Craftsman Truck Series driving debut in the May 27 Mansfield 250 at Mansfield Motor Speedway, he said Tuesday.

Greenwell, who played 12 seasons as a left fielder with the Boston Red Sox, will drive Green Light Racing's No. 08 Chevrolet, with associate sponsorship from North Trail RV Center, from his hometown of Fort Myers, Fla.

Since retiring from baseball, Greenwell has accumulated more than three dozen Late Model Stock Car victories. He said moving to the heavier, more powerful truck is a challenge to which he's looking forward.

"No. 1 thing is the braking, the No. 2 thing is horsepower," Greenwell said. "There's definitely more horsepower coming off the corner. It adds up to being a little out of control every lap."

Greenwell, who has plans to also race at Memphis and New Hampshire later in the season for the team owned by Bobby Dotter and Gene Christensen, said the opportunity to participate in the open test at Mansfield before the weekend was a major factor.

"I picked that race by design," Greenwell said. "It's the best opportunity to run the most laps in the truck before I race it."

Greenwell hit .303 with 1,400 hits and 130 homers before retiring in 1996.