(VPS Motorimages Photo)

Jeff Wyler and Michael Gaughan jointly announced today the formation of Wyler-Gaughan Racing, LLC (WGR), which will field two full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) teams and will run a partial NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) team during the 2008 season.

WGR will field the No. 77 Toyota Tundra with driver Brendan Gaughan and the No. 60 Toyota Tundra. The driver of the No. 60 Toyota Tundra and sponsors for both teams will be announced at a later date.

Gaughan will also be behind the wheel of the team's Toyota Camry in at least six Sprint Cup races.

Tom Buzze has been appointed as General Manager of WGR which will be located in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

"We have watched with great interest the recent partnerships that have formed in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garage, and we believe that this is the wave of the future," Wyler said. "To have a competitive race team at any level in NASCAR, it is crucial to have an almost endless supply of resources available to your team. By combining our efforts, we now have double the talent and double the resources. Our two trucks will work as one team and have the common goal of winning.

"By merging our teams together and forming WGR, we believe that we will be one step ahead when we make our move into the Sprint Cup Series in the coming years."

Wyler and Gaughan have established solid reputations in the NCTS garage over the years.

Wyler currently owns Wyler Racing which fields the No. 60 Toyota Tundra in the NCTS. The team has three victories since debut in June of 2005. Wyler Racing also has one Cup start to their credit, which came at Richmond International Raceway in May when fellow Toyota teammate Johnny Benson piloted the No. 46 Toyota Camry.

Gaughan currently owns South Point Racing, which fields the No. 77 truck in the NCTS. Since its inception in 2000, South Point Racing has nine victories.

"My intention has always been to own a NASCAR Sprint Cup team, and fielding that effort for my son, Brendan," Gaughan said. "After examining various options, we decided partnering with Jeff Wyler and his team would be the best way of working toward that goal."