Bobby Hamilton Jr. announced on Tuesday that 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Willie Allen will pilot the #95 Dodge for Sadler-Hamilton Racing during select NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2008. Hamilton Jr. recently became a co-owner of the Nashville based team that celebrates its 25th anniversary this season.

"My goals for this year are to run four or five Nationwide races with Willie as our driver," said Sadler-Hamilton Racing co-owner Bobby Hamilton Jr. "I sat down with our crew chief Danny Gill and looked at available drivers and Willie was a great fit for our project. Next year, we hope to run 15-25 Nationwide races and a full Camping World East schedule."

Allen, a Nashville native, will compete in this weekends Pepsi 300 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Current plans have Allen driving in the Nationwide Series events at Memphis, Nashville, Daytona and Talladega along with the Nashville ARCA and Camping World events.

"It is an honor to drive for Sadler-Hamilton Racing," said Allen. "The team has such a great history in NASCAR. Earl Sadler and Bobby Hamilton Jr. are very passionate about the sport and very competitive. It is going to be a lot of fun driving in my hometown of Nashville. I am very excited and thrilled to have this great opportunity."

Allen has three career NASCAR Nationwide Series starts with a 4th place qualifying effort in his series debut in 2006.