In what Derek Kneeland calls a dream come true, the veteran spotter and regional short track race car driver is getting the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday, March 28. Kneeland, 36, will strap into the No. 28 Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group to make his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East event at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Kneeland is the full-time spotter for Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series, and also serves as the full-time spotter for Austin Hill and the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing team in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Additionally, Kneeland has worked as a spotter for many rising stars who have come through the Pinnacle Racing Group pipeline, including Connor Zilisch, Brenden Queen, and Connor Mosack. As a spotter for Pinnacle, Kneeland has collected 12 of the team’s 19 ARCA wins all-time.
Kneeland feels like he doesn’t belong on the list of drivers who have had a shot behind the wheel of a Pinnacle Racing Group entry, but is thankful that the team appreciates his contributions to their organization enough to give him a chance to live out his dream.
“BIG announcement! A childhood dream to drive on the national level,” Kneeland posted on his personal X account. “As a driver Im not deserving of this compared to so many talented drivers, but the team appreciates me and the job I do for them, and I will give 110% effort into this once in a lifetime opportunity!!”
Kneeland will have a solid chance at success in his spot-start with Pinnacle Racing Group at Hickory, as he has competed at the iconic race track three times in the past. Kneeland’s three starts at Hickory came in Super Late Model competition in the PASS National Championship Series, where he had a best finish of 10th, in the opening race of the Easter Bunny Twin 150s in 2021.
