Brett Moffitt is back in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for 2018.
The 25-year-old Moffitt will pilot Hattori Racing Enterprises’ No. 16 full-time in the series this year, the team announced Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Moffitt returns to a team for which he drove one race in 2013 — Michigan International Speedway, at which he finished 16th.
“This is an awesome opportunity for me to reunite with [owner] Shige Hattori and get back into a position to win races”, Moffitt said in a press statement. “I’m excited about the opportunity to work with so many familiar faces. I believe the people in place at HRE are the right group for us to find a lot of success.”
Scott Zipadelli, who acted as crew chief for Moffitt in his six-race stint with Red Horse Racing in the series in 2016, will assume the role for Moffitt in 2018. The pair won a race together at Michigan and scored four top 10s.
“I am so glad to have Brett back with us at HRE,” Hattori added. “We enjoyed working together several years ago and he has made the most of every opportunity he’s had in this sport over the last few years, especially in the NCWTS. He’s proven he can win races and is deserving of the opportunity.”
Moffitt began 2017 running full-time for Red Horse Racing’s No. 7 program in the series but lost his ride after the team closed its doors after five races. He ran a race in the XFINITY Series for GMS Racing and seven in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for BK Racing following RHR’s closure.
In 13 Truck Series starts, Moffitt has a win, three top fives and six top 10s to his credit.
AISIN Group will sponsor Moffitt in 2018.
The No. 16 for HRE was previously driven by Ryan Truex, who finished ninth in the 2017 standings with eight top fives and 13 top 10s. He has moved to Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 in the XFINITY Series for 2018.
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.