Bayley Currey will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at ISM Raceway, driving for Rick Ware Racing in its No. 52 in the TicketGuardian 500 on March 10, the driver announced March 6.
Ready to roll to @ISMRaceway for my #monsterenergycupseries debut in the @RickWareRacing #52! pic.twitter.com/YpkGR8i1OD
— Bayley Currey ?? (@BayleyCurrey) March 6, 2019
Though it wasn’t officially revealed, from the video clip in Currey’s tweet announcing the news, it seems like sponsorship will come from communications company Mitel.
Currey will be piloting the No. 52 previously driven by Cody Ware and BJ McLeod this season. The entry will be a Ford Mustang this week, after beginning the season as a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the first two races of the season. (The RWR No. 51 has also shifted between Chevy and Ford.)
Currey, 22, is from Driftwood, Texas, and began his career in go-karts before jumping into Bandaleros and working his way up into NASCAR through late models.
He has 13 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2018, all with budget-challenged organizations. He posted his series-best finish of 21st for JP Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway. Both his 2019 NXS starts have come in the RWR No. 17 Chevy, running 22nd at Atlanta Motor Speedway and 34th in Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s also entered in the car this weekend.
He also has 16 starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series since 2017, with a career-best finish of 10th for Copp Motorsports in 2017 at ISM Raceway. He also had a 16th in Las Vegas last season.
The No. 52 is currently 39th out of 41 teams in the MENCS owner standings with seven points through three races, last among the 36 chartered cars.
Ware is currently entered as Currey’s teammate in the Cup race. McLeod, meanwhile, is expected to drive JD Motorsports’ No. 15 in the Xfinity race.
Currey’s one of two drivers scheduled to make their Cup debut at ISM; Quin Houff is entered in Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 for his first Cup start.
The TicketGuardian 500 will go green around 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 10, with TV coverage on FOX.