'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Santino Ferrucci's move to NASCAR is now official, although where he has landed is a bit of a surprise. The former NTT IndyCar Series driver will race a part-time schedule for Sam Hunt Racing - a team that has fielded a car in just 10 races over the last two seasons.
When rumors started flying that the Connecticut native was about to trade a single-seater for a stock car, it appeared that Our Motorsports would be adding a second car for him. Ferrucci has instead signed with Sam Hunt Racing.
The plan for the 22-year-old is to run more than half of the Xfinity Series schedule; however, one of those races will not be the season opener - the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona. His debut will come at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 27, the third event on the series calendar.
Ferrucci started 35 times for Dale Coyne Racing (with Vasser-Sullivan in 2020) with limited success. He failed to win a race and had a 13.5 average finish. He was hoping to stay in IndyCar for a few more years before transitioning to NASCAR. Sponsorship issues quashed those plans, and his timeline changed.
Here's what Ferrucci had to say after completing his move to Sam Hunt Racing:
“I’m incredibly proud to join Sam Hunt Racing and (Toyota Racing Development). I think together we will have a ton of success. Working with Sam these past few weeks has been fantastic and his drive to put out a great racecar and team is second to none.”
Is Ferrucci ready for NASCAR?
Ferrucci has already tested in a NASCAR Super Late Models stock car, so he does not jump in completely cold. But the learning curve could be a straight line because NASCAR could continue racing without practice or qualifying in the series.
Sam Hunt is a former K&N Pro Series East driver who started 34 times, most recently in 2019. He launched his team that same year with Colin Garrett behind the wheel at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last season, Garrett, Mason Diaz, and Brandon Gdovic split nine races.
