#NASCAR * DAYTONA BEACH, FL – King Autosport Crew Chief and erstwhile driver Mario Gosselin will be at the wheel of the King Autosport No. 90 Chevrolet in the NASCAR XFINITY season opener during Speedweek 2015. He
will replace Martin Roy, team principal and lead driver, temporarily out with a shoulder injury. This race marks the start of the first full season in a senior NASCAR series for the Florida- and Montreal-based team.
Mario Gosselin has been around NASCAR, ARCA and other series for decades and is now a partner of King Autosport Principal and lead driver Martin Roy. Mario wears many hats in the team: car builder, preparation, crew chief and driver, with multiple wins and championships as driver and Crew Chief over the years.
The veteran racer is more than pleased to be back at the wheel for this race.
“I am first and foremost a driver, and far too young to hang up my helmet. I have raced competitively at Daytona in the ARCA Series so I know the track well. I also know the car intimately as I prepared it, so this is an opportunity for me and the team to do really well in this incredibly competitive series.
King Autosport has entered the No. 90 Chevrolet in all 33 NASCAR XFINITY races this year, a first full season at such a high level for the international team. The cars will be prepared in the Lake Wales (FL) team shop under the direction of Mario Gosselin. A second car, No. 92, will be entered in selected XFINITY races when Martin returns from his injury or for other drivers as the case may be. In Daytona, the No. 92 will be driven by Sprint Cup veteran Dexter Bean. Mario will also drive one of the two cars again over the season.
Team Principal Martin Roy understands the complexity of this overall plan.
“We have set ourselves a highly demanding task, both physically and financially. Mario and I are passionate about this sport but we are also businessmen. We are convinced that our plan is realistic and vital to our credibility and success in the arena where we want to be: NASCAR.”
The team will also be on track for the full 2015 season in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCaTS), defending their 2014 driver and team championships with driver Louis-Philippe Dumoulin aboard the No. 47 WeatherTech Chevrolet and the ever-present Mario Gosselin as Crew Chief.
In addition to the 2014 championship, King Autosport driver Martin Roy was NCaTS Rookie of the Year in 2012 and fourth in season points in 2013. A second car may be added to the NCaTS presence, based on another strong driver securing the necessary budget.
Both Roy and Gosselin are ready for an intense season.
According to Martin, “We have put in place a realistic plan, financially frugal but also effective. We are now motivated and ready to put in the necessary work.”
Both cars will be on track for XFINITY open practice on Friday, February 20, then for qualifying and the race on February 21 at 3:30 pm. Check out the action live on Fox.
From Marc Cantin
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