Surprise, surprise (not really)

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2013) – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (EGR) announced today that young racing sensation Kyle Larson, a 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) driver and the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) Champion, will take over as the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS beginning in 2014.

The EGR development driver has turned heads in NASCAR competition for the last two seasons where this year he currently sits eighth in the NNS standings. In addition, in just two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts this season, the two-time SPEED Performer of the Year Award Nominee (2011 and 2012) has one win and a second-place finish.

Notes of Interest:

• NASCAR at a Glance: Larson has started 23 races in the 2013 NNS season and sits eighth in the standings with six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. He has also had two 2013 starts in the NCWTS with a win at Rockingham Speedway and second-place finish at Eldora Speedway. Larson also made four NCWTS starts in 2012 and finished with one top-five and three top-10s. He also became just the third driver in history of the NKNPSE to win the series championship as a rookie.

• Newest Member of Team Target: Larson will join four-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 Winner Dario Franchitti and two-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon as a member of Team Target. Earlier this season, Target picked up its 100th win in auto racing when Dixon won the IZOD IndyCar Series race in Pocono. The 2013 season marks the 24th year of Target’s relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing, which is currently one of the longest continuous primary partnerships in motorsports.

• Racing ‘Round the Clock: Overall in 2013, Larson has already raced 76 times in 10 different type cars resulting in 12 wins, 15 second-place finishes and 34 finishes in the top three spots. Last season he competed in 123 races worldwide capturing 30 victories while driving 12 different types of race cars – Pavement Midgets, Dirt Midgets, Pavement Silver Crown, Dirt Silver Crown, 360 winged and non-winged sprint cars, 410 winged and non-winged sprint cars, late-model stock cars, ARCA, K&N Pro Series stock car, and NASCAR trucks. In 2011, he became only the second driver to ever accomplish the feat of winning in all three types of USAC cars (Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown) in a single night at the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway

• Drive for Diversity: The native of Elk Grove, Calif. is of Japanese-American descent and with his NKNPSE Championship in 2012 claimed the first series championship for one of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program drivers.

Quote Board:

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates:
“We are thrilled to be making this announcement. We believe Kyle has a bright future ahead of him in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Nothing that he has done since the moment we signed him has given us any reservations about making this decision. He will represent our organization’s ideals as well as Target’s both on and off the race track. This is a very big day for us.”

Kyle Larson, Driver, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates:
“I don’t think I could be happier right now. The last couple of years racing for Chip have been tremendous. I have learned a ton and very much look forward to taking the next step into running in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. What will make it all even more exciting is that I will be driving for the coolest brand in the garage – Target. I love the store, I love the brand and I couldn’t be more proud.”