Brad Perez, a fan-favorite in the NASCAR Xfinity Series garage, will get the opportunity to compete in the second-tier series again, joining Alpha Prime Racing for Saturday’s standalone event at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The 26-year-old will pilot the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for the organization, with primary sponsorship coming from Bonesteel Aerospace. Long-time supporters Apex Coffee and Weiss Sand & Clay will also serve as associate sponsors of the effort.
While Saturday will technically mark his first official start with Alpha Prime Racing, Perez does have prior experience with the organization, having jumped in the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro earlier in the season at Portland for an ailing Leland Honeyman, Jr.
After making the driver swap at Portland, Perez was able to keep his nose clean and advance into the top-15 by the end of the event, until a mistake on the final lap of the event sent him careening into the tire barriers, relegating him to a finish of 28th.
A native of Hollywood, Florida, Perez has made five prior starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, all driving for Emerling-Gase Motorsports, in which he secured a pair of top-25 finishes for the organization, including a career-best 20th at Watkins Glen last season.
Perez joins a continuously rotating case of drivers for Alpha Prime Racing this season, which includes the likes of Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ryan Ellis, Greg Van Alst, Sage Karam, Rajah Caruth, and Leland Honeyman, among others.
However, with the No. 44 sitting in a precairous position in owner points, it is likely that Perez will need to qualify into the field on his speed, should more than 38 entries visit Road America this weekend.