Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) is designed to give up-and-coming drivers a chance to advance through the ladder system of NASCAR’s top-three national touring divisions. Thus far, its mission has been accomplished as KBM officials announced that Tayler Malsam will depart the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team to accept a ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving the No. 10 Braun Racing Toyota beginning with the June 5 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.
This comes just two weeks after KBM driver Brian Ickler announced he would be racing in select Nationwide Series events for Roush Fenway Racing.
“Roush Fenway Racing called Ickler and asked him about what his deal was with me and if he could get out of it and try to move into the Nationwide Series,” said KBM driver-owner Kyle Busch, who also is the reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. “I have no reason to hold Brian Ickler back. This opportunity is in his best interests. I feel like I’ve done what I needed to do to help him move up, so hopefully he can make a name for himself and a place for himself over there at Roush Fenway and do a good job.
“The same situation occurred with Tayler. Braun offered him a chance to move up to the Nationwide Series and we have no reason to hold him back. He’s a driver, like Brian, who absorbed a lot of knowledge from myself, Rick Ren (competition director) and the rest of the guys at KBM. We support him all the way.”
“We’re looking forward to adding Tayler to our No. 10 Toyota starting at Nashville,” said Todd Braun, owner of Braun Racing. “Kyle has done a great job of giving talented young drivers a chance to race and also advance up through the NASCAR system. We think Tayler has shown a lot of potential and we appreciate Kyle allowing us to give him a shot to move up to the Nationwide Series. We’re confident Tayler will bring home solid finishes for our team.”
As a result of Malsam’s move to the Nationwide Series, the No. 56 Toyota Tundra that he drove in the first seven Camping World Truck Series events in 2010 will not participate in the remaining events this season. Kyle Busch Motorsports will now focus all of its efforts in capturing the Camping World Truck Series owner’s title for the No. 18 Toyota Tundra, which leads the series’ championship standings and will be piloted by NASCAR veteran Johnny Benson in the June 4 WinStar World Casino 400k at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
“Tayler had some tremendous runs in the No. 56,” Ren said. “He started out the season really strong at Daytona until he got caught up in a crash not of his own making and he was headed for a top-five finish at Martinsville until he cut a tire with two laps to go. He was headed to the front of the pack at Kansas until another competitor made a mistake and took him out. Tayler also led laps at Dover. We didn’t always get the finishes that we deserved, but Tayler proved he was ready to move up. Everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports is proud to have moved two young drivers up to the Nationwide Series in a short period of time.”
The driver schedule for KBM’s No. 18 Toyota entry at the remaining Camping World Truck Series events will be determined at a later date, as Ickler is still scheduled to compete in selected events for KBM.
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