NASCAR Cup Series

Tayler Malsam easing through transition to Nationwide Series

Published Jul. 16, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

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! Tayler Malsam here, Braun Racing’s newest addition. For the first half of the 2010 season I was driving Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 56 truck, but in early June I made the jump to the Nationwide Series in Braun Racing’s No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Toyota. It’s been a tough transition, but I’m really enjoying being in the Nationwide Series. The move has been really intense, but all the Braun guys have been really helpful. This weekend at Gateway International Raceway will be my sixth start with the team, and I’m looking forward to bringing home a good finish for the Iron Horse team.

At this point in the season, our goal has just been to get used to the Nationwide Series cars and log laps. We’ve been successful in doing this in my first five starts, and after a week off I’m excited to get back at it! The transition from trucks to stock cars has been made a lot easier with the support of my team. My crew chief, Stewart Cooper, has been really great about working closely with me to get the cars to fit my driving style, and the guys are always willing to give me the knowledge they’ve gained in the series over the years.

After Daytona I headed home to Seattle. For July 4, a bunch of my friends and I headed to my family’s cabin up in the mountains. It was awesome to spend some time with my friends who I don’t get to see much since I’ve been living in North Carolina. It’s always great to get home where I can be a normal 21-year-old guy, away from the traveling and racing. On the flip side, after a few days I found myself itching to get back to the track!

The next stop on our schedule is Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Mo. Gateway is a track I haven’t had much experience racing at, but the one time I was there in the truck I was able to bring home a top-five. Gateway is fun to race at because it has two very different sets of corners, so it keeps you on your toes. This weekend is also the first in a string of stand-alone races for the Nationwide Series. The stand-alone events are coming at a perfect time for me and the Iron Horse team. Now that I have started getting used to racing the Nationwide cars, these next few races are going to give me a chance to race with other Nationwide-only guys without having to compete with as many Cup drivers.

Well, that’s about it for this week. Make sure to check out the race Saturday night, it should be some great Nationwide Series action, and cheer for me and my Braun Racing teammates Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson and Brian Scott!