Franchitti to make debut in Truck Series at Martinsville

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti will make his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Franchitti, who also won the Indianapolis 500 this season, is moving to NASCAR next season. He made his stock-car debut in the ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend and finished 17th.

He's easing into NASCAR the same way Juan Montoya did last year, by racing in a variety of series before making his Nextel Cup debut. Next up on his schedule is the Oct. 20 race at Martinsville.

Franchitti will qualify the No. 41 Dodge. The truck is owned by Cunningham Motorsports, but Brian Pattie from Chip Ganassi Racing will be the crew chief.

Franchitti signed a multiyear deal last week to drive the No. 40 Dodge for Ganassi next season.

• Franchitti fitting in at track one pant leg at a time