Veteran Lajoie to make Truck Series debut in Vegas

From late models at Danbury Fair Race Arena to Winston Cup on the high banks of Daytona, Randy Lajoie has raced just about everything with four wheels - everything, that is, but a truck.

Lajoie, a two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion, will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on September 27th in the Las Vegas 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He will be driving a truck owned by NASCAR Winston Cup star Kevin Harvick.

"I am very excited about making my truck debut for Kevin and DeLana Harvick," Lajoie said. "They've had a chance to win every race they've been in, so for them to trust me enough to drive such a good truck is an honour. I have had some good runs at Las Vegas in the Busch car, and I'm looking forward to this one."

Harvick, who pilots the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet on the Winston Cup tour, is making plans to run his truck team full time in 2004.

"We've raced the truck mostly on short tracks, and I want to see how our equipment will stand up on the bigger tracks," Harvick said. "I hired Randy because he can drive a race car. He knows how to get around (Las Vegas Motor Speedway), and I think he can go out there and win."

And what does Lajoie think of his chances?

"I'm going to win the race," Lajoie said. "If I can run in the top five and then have a chance to win the race, then I would be pretty happy."

Lajoie is one of only four drivers to have started all seven NASCAR Busch Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has two top-10 finishes with a career-best seventh in the 2002 Sam's Town 300.