Maine native Austin Theriault to make third Nationwide start at Kentucky
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While the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series race in neighboring New Hampshire next weekend, the state of Maine will be sponsoring a Nationwide Series car in Kentucky with Pine Tree State native Austin Theriault behind the wheel.
On Friday, 20-year-old Theriault and Governor Paul LePage unveiled a car with Maine on the hood, a moose, blueberries, a lobster and a lighthouse on the sides during a news conference in Portland, Maine.
“Growing up, racing has always been my passion in life,” Theriault said. “It was a momentous step in my career when I raced for the first time in NASCAR with JR Motorsports this past summer.
“Now, I am so excited to share with the people of my home state this exciting next step in my career, for both me and the State of Maine, before I head to Kentucky for my third NASCAR race on September 20th.”
Theriault will make his third start of the season in the No. 5 Maine Open for Business Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS). At Iowa Speedway in May, he finished 15th, and at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, he finished 21st.
“I have spent the last several years providing Maine a much needed tune-up in Augusta,” Governor Paul R. LePage said. “Our goal all along has been to make our state more competitive for private investment and job creation and we have already seen tremendous results.
“Those efforts are continuing, and we are very pleased to now be partnering with Austin Theriault to help steer us to even greater prosperity and help make Maine the ultimate engine for economic development.”
Theriault was the 2012 Maine Vintage Race Car Association’s Driver of the Year, and he made his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut after winning “Maine Young Guns” inaugural competition in 2012. It was that same year he became a part-time developmental driver for Brad Keselowski Racing.
See pictures of the car below.
“Start your engines!” @austintheriault @bernsteinshur #nascar pic.twitter.com/oZyLO4FYPo
— Linda Varrell (@BRPRPrez) September 12, 2014
Press conference ongoing re: @Governor_LePage, #NASCAR driver Austin Theriault of Ft Kent #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/LcEWUUy5xE
— Andrea Parkinson (@andiparkinson2) September 12, 2014
Racing for #maine thx @bernsteinshur for helping make it happen – Fred Lipp way to go pic.twitter.com/rKVN8NuU88
— Linda Varrell (@BRPRPrez) September 12, 2014
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