Notebook: Piquet gets full-time ride in KHI truck

Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will compete full time in the Camping World Truck Series for Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2011, KHI announced Monday.

The truck will be one of three out of the KHI stable. The crew chief, truck number and sponsors will be announced at a later date.

Piquet Jr., 25, competed in five truck races last season for two teams. He scored a best finish of sixth at Daytona in his only start for Red Horse Racing. His other four starts came with Billy Ballew Motorsports.

He finished on the lead lap in four of his five starts, and also had an eighth at Texas and a 10th at Michigan.

He made his Nationwide debut with Baker Curb Racing at Watkins Glen, where he finished seventh.

Piquet said the move to KHI is part of a "long-term plan," and he hopes to announce sponsors in the future.

"I wanted to start in the whole NASCAR series slow," Piquet said. "I want to learn it. Coming from Europe, it's completely different. It's a different environment.

"This is a long-term plan to reach Cup when I'm prepared to get there with a good package, with a good experience and a good knowledge and being part of the whole NASCAR group. I don't want to start jumping phases, jumping series and getting there and thinking I deserve being in NASCAR Cup because I know that's not the way it works."

Piquet, son of former Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, will be considered a rookie and compete for the rookie title.

Fennig will be back with Kenseth in 2011

Jimmy Fennig will return as Matt Kenseth's Cup Series crew chief, Kenseth announced this past weekend on his Matt Kenseth Fan Club page on Facebook.

Fennig replaced Todd Parrott in June, becoming Kenseth's third crew chief of the 2010 season. Parrott replaced Drew Blickensderfer after the season-opening Daytona 500 and directed the No. 17 team for 15 races.

Kenseth was seventh in the standings when the switch was made. He finished the season fifth, qualifying for the Chase after a one-year absence.

In 20 races with Fennig, Kenseth finished in the top 10 seven times, including two top-fives.