How much does three-time NASCAR Mexico Toyota series champion German Quiroga want to succeed in NASCAR America?
With his bicycle and other belongings -and parents-- jammed into a large pickup truck, he drove almost 2,000 miles over three days last April from their big Mexico City home to a two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte, N.C., without knowing if he had a job.
"It was a tough drive, 12 to 15 hours a day," Quiroga said Thursday during a Valley visit to publicize NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series race (Lucas Oil 150) at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 9. "I knew I had to start working here on sponsorships and be closer to NASCAR. I wanted my dream to come true."
Quiroga, 32, secured enough sponsorship from Net10 Wireless to land a four-race package in the No. 51 Toyota Tundra owned by Kyle Busch Motorsports. Quiroga finished eighth in only his third Truck series start (he had two in 2011) last Saturday at Talladega, Ala.
Quiroga said his three Mexico titles, from 2009-11, series runner-up results in 2007-08 and 16 race wins "accomplished my goals. I had everything in México -- championships, sponsors -- but (I came) here with nothing (no contract with any team). It was tough (but) always in life you have to decide where to go".
"It was very comfortable for me to stay, but definitely it wasn't my goal to be there my whole life. I wanted to step it up. It was the right decision"
Quiroga said he's working to put together enough backing from Latino companies to contest the full trucks schedule in 2013 and perhaps a few Nationwide Series races. But he admits his real dream is Sprint Cup.
The Lucas Oil 150, which follows Cup qualifying, is the first race of PIR's NASCAR tripleheader weekend. The Nationwide Great Clips 200 is Nov. 10 and the AdvoCare 500 is Nov. 11. That's the semifinal of NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Source: The Arizona Republic, by Michael Knight
Contenido generado, publicado y difundido por el departamento de prensa del piloto de la NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Germán Quiroga.
Contacto prensa: Martín Caño.
Email: prensa@germanquiroga.com
Contacto prensa: Martín Caño.
Email: prensa@germanquiroga.com
