TRUCKS: Cindric to run full-time for BKR in 2017

Austin Cindric will join Brad Keselowski Racing for the full 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule, the team announced Friday.

"One of the things we wanted to do at BKR is give talented young drivers an opportunity to take the next step in their career," said team owner Brad Keselowski. "Austin Cindric has already had success in various forms of racing and he has shown a lot of potential in our truck. We're happy to give him an opportunity to compete full-time at a high level in NASCAR next season."

• Austin Cindric, Renaissance racer

Cindric, 18, made his BKR trucks debut at Martinsville in October 2015 and has made five starts since then, three of them in 2016. He qualified a career-best second at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and will start Friday's race at Phoenix. Cindric scored wins in the Sept. 23 ARCA race at Kentucky and in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events at Watkins Glen and Virginia International Raceway.

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"This is a massive opportunity from Brad and everyone at BKR who trust me and believe in my abilities as a driver to move on to the next level for a full season," said Cindric. "The number one thing is you've got to get results on the racetrack, and that's something that BKR has done consistently year after year. One of the things I've learned in my short career is that it's all about people. You must have good equipment, but you can't have success without good people, and they definitely have that."

The specifics of Cindric's 2017 BKR program, including sponsor partners, will be announced at a later date.

Cindric – whose mantra is "A busy driver is a happy driver," also piloted the No. 6 K–PAX Racing McLaren 650S in the Pirelli World Challenge in 2016, scoring his first career PWC pole at Mid-Ohio. He finished second in the first race, and wound up last in the second race after contact at the drop of the green flag.