By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
NASCAR Next alum Dylan Lupton will return to NASCAR competition in the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series.
Kyle Busch Motorsports
In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Lupton will first drive the No. 51 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 5. The Truck Series playoff race marks the first for Lupton with Kyle Busch Motorsports. It is also his first race at Darlington since a 30th-place finish in the Xfinity Series in 2017.
“The opportunity to drive the top-notch equipment that Kyle Busch Motorsports prepares is a dream come true,” Lupton explained. “The No. 51 team always prepares fast Tundras. I’m extremely excited to get to Darlington and be able to showcase my talent and represent Safelite AutoGlass.”
In Truck Series competition Lupton has one top-five and four top-10 finishes in 11 career starts. All his top-10s have come on intermediate tracks. Lupton’s best career finish in the Truck Series, fifth, came at Kentucky Speedway in 2019 with DGR – Crosley.
“Dylan has had strong runs on the intermediate tracks in the Truck Series,” said Mike Verlander, president of Kyle Busch Motorsports. “We believe that he can deliver a solid result behind the wheel of the Safelite AutoGlass Tundra at Darlington as the No. 51 teams tries to advance to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner’s playoffs.”
DCC Racing with Reaume Brothers Racing
After his one start with Kyle Busch Motorsports, Lupton will then compete in another four Truck Series races. That will be in a collaborative effort between Reaume Brothers Racing and Diversified Custom Concepts LLC (DCC Racing). He will drive the No. 34 Toyota Tundra in the final four Truck Series races of the season.
Lupton’s stint with the DCC Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing collaboration will start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He will follow that up with starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway, and finally Phoenix Raceway.
“It’s been a big week for me, but I can’t thank Josh and Brad for the opportunity to drive the No. 34 Toyota Tundra for the final four Truck Series races of the season,” Lupton said. “We have worked very hard over the last eight weeks to make sure we are in a position to put a competitive truck on the track with the goal of elevating Reaume Brothers Racing performance too.
“I’m excited to work with Frankie (Kerr), whom I’ve known a little since competing in the Truck Series over the past couple of years. It is going to be a very busy two and a half months or so. I’m ready to get to work and do a great job not only for Josh and Brad but Kyle Busch Motorsports and Sam Hunt Racing too.”
Lupton is the 16th driver to compete for the Reaume Brothers this year. Reaume partnered with On Point Motorsports at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway to field a truck for Chris Hacker.
“This is a huge opportunity for Reaume Brothers Racing,” Reaume Brothers team co-owner Josh Reaume said. “DCC Racing is partnering with Reaume Brothers Racing to bring a higher quality product to the track from Brad Means decades of experience in the sport.
“We have been working on this opportunity with Dylan for a couple of months and have acquired specific equipment for his races. The input from Brad as well as Frankie has the chance to propel Reaume Brothers Racing to another level in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. That is something we are all excited about.”
DCC Racing previously entered the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race with Ryan Newman earlier this year. Despite being second fastest in the second practice session, the No. 39 Coca-Cola / Aggressive Hydraulics Ford F-150 missed the race when weather forced qualifying to be canceled.
DCC Racing team owner Brad Means previously worked with Lupton at David Gilliland Racing. The Californian made eight Truck Series starts with DGR between 2019 and 2020, including four top-10 finishes. Lupton also scored a top-five with DGR in the ARCA Menards Series in 2020.
“I am focused on owning my own team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the future, but this is a great building opportunity for DCC Racing with Dylan Lupton,” Means explained.
“I am excited to get to work with Dylan again especially in a situation that allows me to have a great influence on the vehicles. Josh has worked really hard to grow and improve his program, but with this collaborative effort, it’s an even better opportunity for Dylan, Josh and I to really prove ourselves. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people.”
Sam Hunt Racing
In addition to his opportunities in the Truck Series, Lupton will make two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. There he will drive for Sam Hunt Racing . The Wilton, Calif. native will drive the team’s No. 26 Toyota Supra in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Lupton last competed in the Xfinity Series in 2018. In 35 career starts, he has one top-10 finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2015.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to drive for Sam Hunt Racing this season,” Lupton stated. “It’s been several years since I’ve competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but Sam is making my return seamless.
“Sam, Andrew (Abbott, crew chief) and the entire Sam Hunt Racing team have done a great job building the program this season and I feel like with a little luck we can go out and not only be competitive in our races together, but hopefully contend for top-10 finishes too.”
The 27-year-old joins seven other drivers in the Sam Hunt Racing line-up. The organization’s best finish, and currently only top-10 finish, eighth, came in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.
“I’m excited to add Dylan to our 2021 driver lineup,” team owner Sam Hunt said. “He’s a great guy and fits the personality of our race team well. His prior experience in these cars will be helpful for all of us as we dive in together at Las Vegas with no practice — even if it has been a couple years since he’s competed (in the Xfinity Series).
“He brings a positive and mature attitude toward our shop, has realistic yet challenging goals, and seems like a true team player. I think we will have a lot of fun working together and know he will give us his all.”
Featured Photo Credit: Photo by NKP / NKP Photo.