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White Ready For Daytona Truck Race

KAHNAWAKE, Quebec, Canada – Former NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year Derek White is teaming with Hackett Racing to compete in the season-opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. White will pilot the No. 76 Warrior Gaming Associates Ford for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 on Friday, February 24.

White is very pleased with the opportunity of driving the No. 76 Warrior Gaming Associates truck and competing in his first event at Daytona. 

“It’s been great to work with the team and my crew chief Kevin Eagle,” said White.  “I got to know everyone at Hackett Racing last year and they’ve all worked really hard to get ready for this race.”

The excitement of racing on the high banks at Daytona Speedway for the first time could be intimidating but White is anxious to hit the track. 

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.  “When I hit the track for practice I’ll be smiling, but I’ll also be 100 percent focused on the job of getting ready for qualifying to make the race.”

White is no stranger to tough competition. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver won the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award despite missing an event. Last season in a limited schedule, White opened plenty of eyes at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres, where, on a rain soaked course, he posted a career-best seventh place finish after starting 21st. 

“There are a lot of talented drivers in the Canadian Tire Series,” said White. “It’s great to compete against those guys every weekend.”

As a resident of Kahnawake, Quebec, Derek White is equally proud to be displaying the Native-owned Warrior Gaming Associates logo on the No. 76 Ford. Warrior Gaming Associates manufactures gaming machines. 

“I’m proud of this is a new partnership in racing and I’m hoping it continues for a very long time,” said White. 
  
Practice for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 begins Thursday, February 23 at 12:10 p.m. ET with final practice at 6 p.m. Qualifying will be on Friday, February 24 at 4:05 p.m. and the green flag for the opening race of the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season drops at 7:30 p.m.  Race fans in Canada and the U.S. can watch the race live on SPEED.

Derek White will be fielding a fulltime entry in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2012 with Steve Cote as driver and is also planning to participate in several events himself.