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Ryan Truex lands full-time Truck Series ride with Hattori Racing Enterprises

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Striping Technology 350 - Practice

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 04: Ryan Truex, driver of the #81 KOBE Toyopet Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Striping Technology 350 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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Ryan Truex will compete full-time in the Camping World Truck Series this season in Hattori Racing Enterprises’ No. 16 Toyota.

It will be the 24-year-old driver’s first full-time season in any of NASCAR’s three national series.

Fifteen of Truex’s 19 Truck Series starts came last year with Hattori Racing Enterprises. His best finish was second in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to race my first full National Series Season with HRE and Toyota Racing in 2017,” said Truex, brother of Cup driver Martin Truex Jr., in a press release. “We started 2016 on a strong note and were able to contend inside the playoffs prior to stepping out of the truck after Charlotte. I know we can have similar, if not better results in 2017 and I’m looking forward to contending for race wins and hopefully making the playoffs this season.”

Truex has 84 starts in NASCAR’s national series, including 26 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He has five wins in the K&N Pro Series East.

Scott Zipadelli will serve as Truex’s crew chief in his first season with the team. Last year, Zipadelli earned his first Truck Series victory as a crew chief when he directed Brett Moffitt to his win at Michigan International Speedway.

“Ryan has the pedigree of a great driver and is even a better person,” said team owner Shige Hattori in a press release. “It was an honor to have him drive our trucks last season and I’m looking forward to competing for the championship with him and the team this season. We recently moved into a new state-of-the-art shop facility and have recruited fantastic team personnel for this season. We feel like we’ve done everything to improve our organization which should result in competitive results. I know the No. 16 Toyota Tundra will compete for race wins this season.”

The Truck Series season begins on Feb. 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

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