Roush Fenway Racing Signs Colin Braun to
Driver Development Deal
CONCORD,
N.C. (June 6, 2007) – Roush Fenway Racing
announced today that they have signed 18-year old Colin Braun
(pronounced brown) to their driver development program. Braun
will be entered in select ARCA races in 2007, and will compete
for Rookie-of-the-Year honors as well as the ARCA RE/MAX Series
championship in 2008.
“This is an incredible opportunity,” said
Braun. “To drive for Roush Fenway Racing is a dream come true.
I look forward to learning as much as I can, and growing as a
driver and a person. There are so many talented people working
within their organization. I look forward to making the most of
this opportunity and being with Roush Fenway Racing for a long,
long time.”
Braun began racing at age six in Quarter
Midgets in his home state of Texas. By age 14, Braun was racing
in the National Auto Sport Association’s Fran-Am1600 Pro Series,
where he won Rookie-of-the-Year honors, eight of 11 races and a
championship. The following year Braun won eight races in a row
and a second championship in the 2000 Formula TR Series. In
2005, Braun advanced to the Grand-Am Sports Car Series presented
by Crown Royal Special Reserve, where he currently drives for
Krohn Racing. At just 16 years of age, he became the youngest
ever Rolex Prototype driver. The following year he took home
his first Grand Am win at the Daytona 250 and collected win
number two of the season at Barber Motorsports Park. Braun is
currently racing in the Grand Am Series where he sits third in
points with three top-10 finishes in four starts.
“We're very happy to announce the signing of
Colin Braun to Roush Fenway Racing,” said team owner Jack
Roush. “Colin has shown a tremendous amount of promise in the
Grand Am series, and we're looking forward to seeing what he can
accomplish in stock cars. Colin is a young driver who has shown
potential both on and off the track, and we're happy that he
will be part of Roush Fenway Racing going forward.”
Erik Darnell has been behind the wheel of
the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion for two ARCA events,
recording a second-place finish at Kansas Speedway in April and
a win at Kentucky Speedway earlier this month. Braun is
tentatively scheduled to drive the No. 99 Ford at Gateway
International Raceway on August 31, and Chicagoland Speedway on
September 8. Darnell, Braun and others will continue to drive
the No. 99 ARCA entry in selected races throughout the 2007
season. Roush Fenway Racing is currently seeking sponsorship
opportunities for 2007 and beyond.