Gray Gaulding has joined BK Racing and will drive 35 races in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, competing for Rookie of the Year honors. The announcement was made Tuesday.
“This is by far the biggest day of my career, but this year is gonna be very different because I’m gonna be in the car every week,” Gaulding stated. “I’ve prepared all off season just getting in mentally and physically ready because the Cup Series is a grind all season and I do feel ready for this huge opportunity this season.”
Gaulding will drive the #23 Toyota Camry starting at the second race of the season in Atlanta as Joey Gase is in the car for the Daytona 500. A sponsor has not been announced. Prior to joining BKR, Gaulding attempted three races in late 2016 for The Motorsports Group, where he drove the #30 Chevrolet SS in place of Josh Wise. He finished 39th in his Cup debut at Martinsville, followed by a 37th-place run at Phoenix before failing to qualify at Homestead.
A former development driver of Kevin Harvick Incorporated and member of the 2013 NASCAR Next program, Gaulding ran the full 2013 and 2014 K&N Pro Series East seasons, finishing 7th and 3rd in points, respectively. During the 2013 season, he made a name for himself when he finished 2nd at the UNOH Battle at the Beach, followed by a controversial victory in the K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix International Raceway after colliding with race leader Cole Custer.
In 2014 and 2015, he moved up to NASCAR’s national series starting with the Camping World Truck Series, where he drove for NTS Motorsports, Red Horse Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports. He recorded two top-10 finishes, including a 4th-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2014 with NTS. A year later, he became a Roush Fenway Racing development driver and ran two Xfinity Series races for the team, finishing 13th at Bristol and Richmond.
“Over the years, BK Racing has given many talented young drivers the chance to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and make a name for themselves,” team owner Ron Devine said. “We see Gray Gaulding as a potential superstar in our sport.”
The Colonial Heights, Virginia native expressed optimism with his new team, hoping to “learn as much as possible about these cars and bond with [my] team throughout the season to get some solid finishes.”
Gaulding’s first scheduled race, the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, will be held on March 5.
