Roush completes truck line up

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2000) Roush Racing completed the 2001 roster for its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program Tuesday with the selection of Nathan Haseleu as a second driver.

Haseleu, a standout in the RE/MAX Challenge Series, NASCAR Touring ranks, joins Chuck Hossfeld, who was introduced last week as one of the replacements to fill the Roush Racing seats being vacated by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch, the circuit's top rookie. Biffle is heading to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2001 and Busch is moving to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Haseleu and Hossfeld were selected from a series of group tryouts that ended recently at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Haseleu, 23, of Sun Prairie, Wis. "I was just excited to get the invitation for the tryout, but to actually get an offer is unbelievable. Roush Racing is by far the best team in the truck series, and I'm looking forward to driving for them in 2001. To get behind the wheel of trucks that will win a championship this year, and possibly finish in the runner-up position as well, is the best possible scenario any driver could ask for."

Haseleu began competing in the RE/MAX Challenge Series in 1998, running four races before a full-time schedule in 1999 led to a 10th-place finish in the points standings. Haseleu's just-completed 2000 campaign included seven top-5 finishes, one victory and a seventh-place finish in the driver standings.

"He's done extremely well in the RE/MAX Series the last couple of seasons and we are ready to take him to the next level of his career," Roush Racing owner Jack Roush said. "The Craftsman Truck Series competition is tough, but we feel Nathan has the ability to get out there and run with the best of them right from the start."