Larson to move to Nationwide in '13

Kyle Larson will drive the No. 32 Clorox Chevy Camaro full time for Turner Scott Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season.

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The Earnhardt Ganassi Racing development driver’s will make his Nationwide Series debut in the Drive4COPD 300 on Feb. 23. He also will compete in the Battle at the Beach and the ARCA race during SpeedWeeks before the Nationwide Series event.

“This is truly one of the happiest days of my life,” Larson said. “I have been thinking about something like this since my very first days of racing. I am very proud to be part of Chip Ganassi’s organization and to be running with Turner Scott Motorsports. Daytona cannot come fast enough for me.”

The 20-year-old product of Elk Grove, Calif. competed in 123 races in 12 different series last year. Larson won the K&N Pro Series East title last season in his first year of competition as part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

Larson competed in four Camping World Truck Series races last season, as well. His best finish was second at Phoenix International Raceway in November.

“Kyle has already proven in a very short amount of time that he is a very talented driver, and we’re very excited to have him on board at Turner Scott Motorsports,” said team co-owner Harry Scott. “He did a fantastic job in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events he drove for us last season, so we are thrilled to be a part of the next step in his career and to see his talent develop while at the wheel of the No. 32 Chevrolet Camaro this season.”

Trent Owens will serve as Larson's crew chief.

Owens worked with nine different drivers in the Nationwide Series at Turner Scott last year. He guided James Buescher to his first Nationwide victory in the season opener at Daytona and Nelson Piquet Jr. to his win at Elkhart Lake in June.