Introducing new Craftsman Truck Series rookie, Mini Tyrrell

HAMPTON, Ga. – Two of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ram team full-time drivers – Brenden "Butterbean" Queen and Mini Tyrrell – will be making their first EchoPark Speedway starts in Saturday’s race – qualifying 28th and 29th, respectively for the Fr8 Racing 208 (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). For Tyrrell, who won his seat in the No. 14 Ram 1500, it’s been a high-profile arrival on the NASCAR scene. He earned the season ride at Kaulig Racing through the “Race for the Seat” reality competition during the offseason – besting a field of 15 hopefuls. The eight-episode series aired on YouTube and FOX networks, and although Tyrrell is an accomplished short track driver, even he has noticed the additional attention it’s brought. RELATED: Truck Series standings | EchoPark weekend schedule “It’s a huge step in the career, and even this morning walking to the garage, people wanted me to sign [autographs],’’ Tyrrell said. “To me, that’s just so awesome because I’ve grown up being a race fan and loving racing. It’s been so special and I’ve been in the shoes of those people that love the drivers. “It’s definitely unexpected, just because I was a local guy who ran the late models,’’ he said of the attention. “I had a bunch of fans that loved the short track scene but they didn’t really know who I was, the fans who love NASCAR. So it was really cool to make that entrance and so cool for the show and having that opportunity and getting my name out there and having so many new fans. It’s been such a pleasure to meet everybody. I love every minute when people come up.”