PALUDO: Back In No. 77 Germain Truck At Kentucky
09-01-2010 6:05 pm

Miguel Paludo has been racing in the NASCAR ranks in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010 with fellow Toyota team Hattori Racing Enterprises. He expanded his schedule to join forces with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship points leaders Germain Racing.

In the first of four Truck Series events scheduled this season, Paludo took full advantage of his team's experience and resources, and the results showed—he finished ninth in his Bristol Motor Speedway series debut. Paludo credits his team and teammate Todd Bodine with the successful venture and hopes Kentucky will be another strong outing for him and the No. 77 Stemco Duroline Tundra.

"Kentucky Speedway will be a completely new experience for me with the Stemco Duroline Tundra. The track is wider, faster, longer than any oval course I have raced. This is where I will benefit from the experience and leadership of Germain Racing. My teammate, Todd Bodine, gave me very good advice for Bristol and I was able to work with him during the race. We will talk again before Kentucky," said Paludo, a native of New Silver, Brazil.

In his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut, Paludo scored a coveted top-10 finish. He credits his team and teammate with his early success in the Stemco Duroline Tundra.

"Having a teammate that is the Truck Series points leader has been a benefit to me. We talk about the lines getting around the track and the best way to pass at the track. Todd gives me very good information and Germain Racing prepares very fast race trucks. We are looking forward to learning about racing on the mile and a half race tracks when we get the Stemco Duroline Tundra to Kentucky Speedway," said Paludo, 27, who has earned the title of champion in two consecutive seasons in Brazilian Porsche GT3 Cup competition (19 wins, 10 pole positions and 10 "fastest laps").

To prepare for a full-time career in the Truck Series, Paludo is racing the No. 77 Stemco Duroline Tundra this season at Bristol (ninth), Kentucky, Texas and Homestead and he will race in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Kansas.

"My goal is to learn something new with every single lap to prepare to race full time in 2011. I have dreamed of racing in NASCAR for years and I'm fortunate to have Stemco Duroline, Toyota and Germain Racing working with me to make this dream a reality," said Paludo.

On Kentucky…
- Paludo has never been to the race track - Will be tutored by Kentucky NNS winner and current Truck Series points leader, teammate Todd Bodine
- Scored his first NASCAR top-10 this season in K&N Pro Series East at Lime Rock where he finished ninth
- Paludo has seven NASCAR starts in the K&N Pro Series with a best start of ninth
- Scored his first Truck Series top ten in his debut at Bristol Motor Speedway where he finished ninth