Key Motorsports will make the jump to Nationwide

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Key Motorsports founder and owner Curtis W. Key Sr. is planning a return to the NASCAR racing series in which he first toiled 15 years ago.

Currently a full-time competitor in the Craftsman Truck Series, Key Motorsports took ownership this week of its first four Nationwide Series cars. This new fleet may soon expand by as many as four additional cars as the organization gears up for the addition of a Nationwide Series program to compliment its Truck Series operation.

Key purchased four intermediate track Chevrolets from the inventory that became available following the recent merger of Ginn Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc. The additional purchase of a speedway car, two short-track cars and a road-course car also is being planned.

"With NASCAR now going full-time with the COT cars in the NASCAR Sprint Series starting next season, field should open up and allow organizations like ours to compete. We see an opportunity to expand our program into that circuit to provide our sponsors with some alternatives," Key said.

"We have had talks with some drivers and prospective crew chiefs, and some of these drivers have the potential to bring some sponsorship money with them. If this all happens, Key Motorsports will have a presence in the Nationwide Series in 2008," he added.

Currently, Key Motorsports is in its second full season of Truck Series action with its No. 40 Chevrolet with veteran driver Chad Chaffin, one of six drivers who have piloted the truck this year.

The organization fielded a race car in limited Busch Series races from 1993-98, first operating out of Chesapeake, Va., and then in a new shop in Mooresville, N.C.

Key left the industry in 1999 following the death of his brother but returned four years later as Truck Series team owner.

"If we get enough sponsorship to do this thing right, the Nationwide Series operation will operate independently and with its own people," Key said. "If not, we will enter cars in selected races, hire a few people to manage the cars and use some of our truck team people to make sure we send a car to the race track that will be capable of qualifying and racing."