Mazda MX-5 Cup driver Nathan Nicholson will make his first career oval start this weekend with Freedom Racing Enterprises (FRE) at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Nicholson has made three Truck Series starts this season, all with FRE on road courses. The Indiana native earned a career-best finish of 20th at Watkins Glen in May. His other starts came in the first two Truck Series street races in series history at St. Petersburg in February and, most recently, at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
A former Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout competitor in 2023, Nicholson has competed in the MX-5 Cup this season with Advanced Autosport, driving the No. 56 entry. He has consistently run near the front of the field while emerging as a podium contender in one of North America’s premier sports car development series. Nicholson’s next MX-5 Cup start will come in just over a month when the series heads to Virginia International Raceway for Rounds 9 and 10.
This weekend’s effort will once again be supported by one of Nicholson’s sports car sponsors, Whelen, while Freedom Warranty joins the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado as a partner for the event.
On-track action for Nicholson and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series begins Friday, July 17, with practice and qualifying. The weekend concludes Saturday, July 18, with the 250-lap feature event at North Wilkesboro Speedway, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
