Montoya to start two NASCAR races for Penske in 2014

Pretty cool seeing Montoya come back...and for sweet Penske ride

After leaving Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates at the end of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season to return to the IndyCar Series, Juan Pablo Montoya is set to make a two-race return to NASCAR during the summer with Team Penske, the same team he drives for in IndyCar.

Earlier today, Team Penske announced that Montoya will drive a third entry for the organization at the June 15 Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway and the Crown Royal Presents Your Hero’s Name Here 400 at The Brickyard on July 27. The races will be the Colombian driver’s first in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since last season’s finale at Homestead-Miami, where he finished 18th.

Montoya, who has two wins, 24 top fives and 59 top 10s in 253 starts, will pilot the No. 12 Ford Fusion with veteran crew chief Greg Erwin calling the shots from atop the war wagon. He joins full-time Team Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.

“It’s hard to believe, but Roger Penske has never won the Brickyard 400,” said Montoya. “I think that Brad, Joey and I will give Roger and Team Penske a great opportunity to check that off the list and we should be strong at Michigan as well.”

In 14 starts at Michigan, Montoya’s best finish was sixth, coming in June 2009. In his first trip to Indianapolis with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he finished runner-up to Tony Stewart. The result was his best finish at the 2.5-mile track in seven starts. His average driver rating at Michigan and Indianapolis are 71.7 and 96.7, respectively.

- NASCAR