Brazilian Racing Professional Is Progressing In NASCAR

Miguel Paludo: (Born July 26,1983) is from Nova Prata, Brazil. Some people do not know that Miguel was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes seven years ago, and he is required to take daily insulin shots. At the young age of 14, he started racing go-karts. Paludo raced in the National Level racing Renault clios where he earned two podium finishes in 2006. In 2008, Paludo raced in the Porsche GT3 Championship Series where he competed in the full season. He earned three wins, two poles and 11top-three finishes and was also named the Champion in that series. In 2009 he earned a second Porsche GT3 championship.

Miguel moved to North America in 2010 to try and put NASCAR on his racing resume. He got his first experience behind the wheel of a stock car when he participated in a test for Red Horse Racing at New Smyma Speedway in Florida. Paludo signed a deal to drive in the K@N Pro series East for Hattori Racing Enterprises. He competed in nine of 10 races earning his best finish of fourth at New Hampshire Motor speedway.

Miguel made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in August of 2010 for Germain Racing, where he earned an outstanding 9^th place finish. He made one additional start for Germain at Kentucky Speedway and then joined Red Horse Racing towards the end of the season. He also ran at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season finale event where he tied his best finish of ninth place.

In 2011, he is scheduled to run the full season with Red Horse Racing and he will be running for the rookie of the year title. After race 16 out of 25 for the trucks, Miguel currently sits 16^th in the championship standings with 3 top 5’s and 4 top 10s. Coming into Bristol on August 24^th, Miguel was fresh off his career best third place finish at Michigan. He did not get the finish he was looking for at Bristol (31^st position) but I am sure he was happy to finish the race and get home. Miguel got a wonderful experience last Monday that he will never forget: His wife gave birth to there first child ( Oliver Paludo). Before the race started in Bristol, Miguel had a big smile on his face and said “Oliver is so perfect”. Miguel still has time to make up some points and get good finishes. He is a rookie: so every race he does not do well in, he will learn from it and go back there next year and do better.

Miguel has two goals: Earn rookie of the year honors and move up in NASCAR

someday. I believe Miguel will have a very good chance at getting the rookie of the year title this year. Someday we may see him move up in the Nationwide series, you never know. He has finished in the top 5 a couple times this year, so we know he knows how to get up to the front and have a chance at winning. If he does not get a win this year, I am sure he will at least get one win next year in the truck series. If he does get a win in the truck series, he would make history at becoming the first Brazilian to win a NASCAR Truck Series race. We will have keep watching the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and wait and see what the future holds for Miguel Paludo.

To Miguel Paludo: Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your first child and Good luck at Atlanta!