Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Austin Theriault still hopes to race at Homestead; 2016 plan uncertain

WinStar World Casino & Resort 400

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 04: Austin Theriault, driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford, looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino & Resort 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 4, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Rainier Ehrhardt

Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Theriault is still holding out hope he may be able to race in the season finale in two weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

But after that, Theriault is uncertain about what 2016 will bring.

Theriault suffered a 10 percent compression fracture of his back and a number of bruises and lacerations after his Truck violently hit an unprotected retaining wall nearly head on during a race a month ago at Las Vegas.

The impact was so hard that it broke the head-and-neck restraint device Theriault was wearing.

On Wednesday, he took to Twitter to update his fans on his health and status for both the remainder of this season, as well as 2016.

[embed]

[/embed]

“It’s been an up and down month of healing,” Theriault tweeted. “However, it is even harder sitting on the sidelines, waiting to get back in the Truck. Unfortunately, I won’t be competing this weekend at Texas or Phoenix. However, the doctors are upbeat about Homestead.

“Though the season’s not over, we’ve had a great year. I remain grateful for the opportunity to drive the No. 29 this year. Working with everyone at BKR has been immensely rewarding, both professionally and personally.”

Theriault drives for Brad Keselowski Racing, which announced on Tuesday that its full time drivers for 2016 in the Truck Series will be the returning Tyler Reddick and the addition of Daniel Hemric.

Theriault has appeared in eight races for BKR this season, with top-five finishes in Daytona (fourth place in his Truck Series debut) and Texas (fifth), and two other top-10 showings at Loudon (eighth in July) and 10th at Gateway.

But the 2016 plans for the 21-year-old Fort Kent, Maine native are uncertain. He had hoped to move up from part time to full time status in the series, but that’s to be determined.

“I am certain that the injury will not effect my plans for 2016,” Theriault tweeted. “Unfortunately, due to lack of sponsorship, I don’t have any full time opportunities. Staying positive is one of the lessons I’ve learned in life so far and especially the past few weeks.

“So I remain encouraged that we will partner with the right sponsors, and the right racing opportunities will open up.”

Follow @JerryBonkowski