Gray Gaulding steps up to Cup with BK Racing

Gray Gaulding is going Cup racing.

BK Racing announced Gaulding as the primary driver of the No. 23 Toyota in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Monday afternoon. The 18-year-old Gaulding will begin his tenure with the team at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the second race of the season, as Joey Gase will drive the car in the Daytona 500.

'Gase is scheduled to be in the No. 23 in three races this season, Daytona, Kentucky, and the second Bristol race. A BK Racing official confirmed a Tweet by Gase saying that Gaulding would move into another car for those races.

In 2016, Gaulding made his first two Cup starts, finishing 39th at Martinsville Speedway in October, and 37th at Phoenix in November. Sponsorship for Gaulding will be announced at a later date.

"When I first walked into the BK Racing shop I felt at home, it has the perfect mixture of corporate America and the old-school race shop feeling," Gaulding said in a team release. "Everyone was elbows deep preparing for Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas and the entire season. Ron Devine has invested a lot of time, effort, and equity into BK Racing and it shows as you walk the shop floor.

"To be back with Toyota is great, I've kept a great relationship with them, and they're a great technical partner. I can't wait to get behind the wheel and represent everyone at BK Racing and our partners that allow us to be at the track."

A former NASCAR Next member, Gaulding has 15 starts between the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series with two top-10 finishes. Both came in the Truck Series. In 2013 and '14, Gaulding competed full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, earning two poles and 17 top-10 finishes. He also earned a K&N Pro Series East win at Phoenix International Raceway in the fall of 2013.

"Over the years, BK Racing has given many talented young drivers the chance to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and make a name for themselves," said team owner Ron Devine. "We see Gray Gaulding as a potential superstar in our sport."