Brett Moffitt to drive MWR’S No. 66 Toyota at Michigan

CORNELIUS, N.C. - Michael Waltrip Racing announced today Brett Moffitt will drive the No. 66 Let’s Go Places Toyota at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, marking his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.

Moffitt, a 21-year-old Iowa native, made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in Dover last week in the No. 66 with Jay Robinson Racing, starting 18th and posting a 22nd-place finish. Jeff Burton, who was originally slated to run the Michigan race, now will be entered in the July 13 Sprint Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he has won four times.

“Our No. 66 team was originally scheduled to run some new components at Michigan with Jeff, but those plans were delayed last week, causing us to debate running Michigan at all,” said MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip. “However, after the great effort we saw with Brett in his debut at Dover, we decided to move forward with Michigan, allowing Brett more seat time and to work towards his NASCAR eligibility to race on bigger tracks.

“Brett did an amazing job in Dover, not only to gain experience, but more importantly respect from the other competitors. The best part is we are now taking Jeff Burton to New Hampshire where he has a lot of success and can really impact the performance of all MWR cars.”

Moffitt is a nine-time winner in K&N Pro Series East competition and has served as a test driver for MWR for the past two seasons.

“It seems like this is all happening very fast, but I feel like we have been working towards this kind of opportunity for a long time,” said Moffitt. “At Dover, we set some goals and I feel like we accomplished all of them and exceeded most of them. Heading to Michigan our goals will be much of the same. I want to get comfortable and I want the greatest drivers in the world to be comfortable around me.”

Burton said he looks forward to racing at New Hampshire. His four victories are the most of any driver in the 38 Sprint Cup races held at the mile oval in Loudon.

"When the testing plans for Michigan changed and the ability to run New Hampshire became available I jumped at the opportunity. This gives Brett a chance to get some well deserve race time and the ability for me to race at one of my favorite race tracks. This is a win for all of us at MWR."

A partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing allows the No. 66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Michael Waltrip raced the Toyota at Daytona and Talladega while Burton raced in Las Vegas.

Michael Waltrip Racing