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Piquet to make Nationwide debut

Nelsinho Piquet will make his Nationwide Series debut next Saturday at Watkins Glen, driving for Baker-Curb Racing

The Brazilian will race for the first time in the second-tier series this weekend in what will be his eighth stock car event and his fifth in one of NASCAR's national series, following four outings in the Truck Series, where he has achieved three top-ten finishes.

It will also be the first time Piquet competes on a road-course event in NASCAR.

The former Formula 1 driver will be behind the wheel of the #27 Ford Fusion for Baker-Curb Racing, a single-car team that ran Australian V8 Supercar racer Owen Kelly at Road America, taking an impressive fifth place on his Nationwide Series debut.

"I'm really excited to do my first road course NASCAR race in the Nationwide series with Baker Curb Racing," said Piquet. "I can't wait to get back in the driving seat! I've had a good year having positive experiences in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series.

"I've learned so much every time I've raced, had some encouraging results and this is another good step for me. Everything will be new again, from the team to the car and the track, but I'm sure I'll get up to speed quickly and have another really constructive race weekend in NASCAR."

AUTOSPORT understands that Piquet's outing is a one-race deal for now, but the Brazilian is working on the possibility of racing at Montreal later this month.

"We are excited to have Nelson driving our #27 Ford Fusion this weekend at Watkins Glen," said Baker Curb Racing president Matt Crews.

"He has been very successful in his transition to American stock car racing this season; running well on the oval tracks in both the Camping World trucks and the ARCA Series cars.

"We feel that although it is his first time in a Nationwide Series car he will be able to compete for a win on the road course and help us in our battle to remain in the top 10 in owner's points."

Baker Curb Racing has run a number of drivers during the season including Roush Fenway's Greg Biffle, who scored second-place finishes for the team at California Speedway and Richmond.

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