Patton, MB Motorsports Join Forces for ’06
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season
MB Motorsports announced today J.R. Patton will
drive the #63 Ford for duration of the 2006 NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) season. Patton,
22, will have large shoes to fill, as the Foristell,
Mo.-based team also launched the careers of current
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stars Jamie McMurray
and Carl Edwards. 
“This is a new year for everyone and we
have a lot positive things working for us right
now,” said the New Mexico native. “Teaming
up with MB Motorsports and (team owner and crew
chief) Mike Mittler is a great opportunity for
me. Mike’s reputation and expertise in the
Craftsman Truck Series is second to none. Every
driver dreams of an opportunity to work with a
team like this.”
Patton, a NASCAR Southwest Tour Series veteran
with a midget and sprint car background, attempted
the 2005 season opener in Daytona with MB Motorsports.
However, due to a rule change prior to the season,
a qualifying effort that normally would have landed
them in the show sent them home instead. One of
the few owners who has fielded teams for the entirety
of the Truck Series’ existence, Mittler
was able to move beyond the one race and see Patton
was a racer with the same potential he saw in
McMurray and Edwards.
“J.R. is a fine young man and a good driver,”
said Mittler. “We are excited to have him
back as a part of the MB Motorsports family and
are looking forward to a full season run.”
While still technically an NCTS rookie, Patton
has raced in the Truck Series prior to this season,
running seven races with the now-defunct Fiddle
Back Racing. His highest finish during that stretch
was a 15th-place effort at the Las Vegas Motor
Speedway.
Mittler, whose 35 years in racing includes an
ASA championship with NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace
in 1983, said Patton’s signing isn’t
the only good news to come out of the MB Motorsports
headquarters this week. “We are firming
up some details on a couple deals and we will
make an announcement in the next couple of days.”
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