NASCAR Cup Series

Stewart Cooper, driver Tayler Malsam like new Nationwide car

Published Aug. 12, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Editor's note: Throughout the year, FOXSports.com will have different Braun Racing drivers, crew chiefs and crew members with us to explain what's going on around Braun Racing and the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Hey FoxSports.com! Stewart Cooper, crew chief on the No. 10 Toyota, here this week. This is the first time I am writing this, so I hope I can do it justice. The 2010 season has been great for the No. 10 team, and I’m really proud of all the guys for working so hard and bringing great cars to the track each week

As a team we have worked with a few different drivers this season, from Cup veterans to Nationwide Series rookies. We started off in Daytona International Speedway with my buddy, Kasey Kahne in the No. 38, and will work with him in the No. 38 in a total of eight races this season while Jason Leffler jumps in the No. 10. We have also worked with David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Mikey Kile, and more recently Tayler Malsam.

Tayler has been our primary driver since his debut in Nashville Superspeedway and will continue to be for the majority of the rest of the season. He’s a great kid to work with and loves being in a race car. He will work his butt off during the race, and give you all he’s got to bring the car home as close to the front as possible.

We had some bad luck at Kentucky Speedway and Iowa Speedway, but he always bounces right back and wants to get to work. We’ve definitely had some great runs with him, and are all looking forward to working with him the rest of the season as he continues to develop as a driver.

This week we are heading to Michigan International Speedway for the second race with the new Nationwide Series car. The new car is completely different from the current car with a whole new mechanical and aero package. I went with the No. 38 team and tested in Daytona earlier in the season, and of course we were in Daytona in July for the car’s first race.

In the test, and in the race, the Braun Racing cars had a lot of speed right out of the gate, so I am confident we will be fast again at Michigan. Our car for this weekend is brand new, and as with all the cars that Braun Racing puts on the track, the bodies and chassis are built in-house. All the guys in the shop have been working really hard to finish these new cars up, and I can’t wait to see what we have when the No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Camry hits the track.

Before Daytona, Tayler had never been in one of the new cars, but I knew that they would really suit his driving style. He did well in Daytona, and I think the more laps he has in the car, the more comfortable he is going to get.

During Thursday’s extended practice session we are going to work on logging laps with Tayler, and figuring out the best way to get the car’s balance exactly how he wants it. Our plan for Friday’s practice is to keep working on the car’s handling, and hopefully get it as close to perfect as possible for Saturday’s race. I am really confident in Tayler and his driving, and I have no doubt that we are going to do well this weekend.

Something else that’s pretty cool this weekend is my car chief, Pete Bejte, and I are taking part in the ‘MIS Cares’ charity ‘Fish Your Bass Off’ fishing tournament. We’ll be going out on Wampler Lake on Thursday night to have a little fun, and get some fishing in on a long race weekend!

Well, that’s all for now. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and tune into the race on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Keep an eye out for all the Braun Racing drivers: Tayler Malsam (No. 10), Reed Sorenson (No. 32), Jason Leffler (No. 38) and Brian Scott (No. 11).