Max Q Motorsports has signed Scott Speed to drive its No. 37 Ford Fusion, starting with this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. The team, which previously fielded Tony Raines in its car, which is run in association with Front Row Motorsports and has an engine deal with Roush Yates, currently ranks 39th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner points, so Speed will have to qualify on time at Indy. It also plans to run at Pocono and Watkins Glen, with future races being subject to sponsorship.
If he does qualify, the 28-year-old former Formula 1 and NASCAR driver – who drove for Red Bull Racing in NASCAR before being dropped by the team at the end of last year – will make his first start since 2010, having failed to qualify for Dragon Racing at the Indianapolis 500. Speed has 76 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, with one top-five and three top-10s, eight top-10s in 13 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and one win, four top-fives and nine top-10s in 16 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“I am excited to get back to the track,” said Speed. “Max Q Motorsports seem to have a good operation and a great group of guys working on the 37. Ford has a great engine package so I'm hopeful that we can get the ball rolling quickly and be competitive out the gate.”
“We are excited to have Scott Speed join us,” said Larry Gunselman, Max Q Motorsports owner. “He has shown great talent in a small period of time in stock cars and with the right operation I think things can really take off. We will start by focusing on qualifying and go from there.”