Miguel Paludo, who has not driven in the NASCAR National Series ranks since 2013, will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021 to drive three road course races for JR Motorsports in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
“This is an amazing opportunity and it’s hard to put in words how grateful I am,” said Paludo in a team release. “Returning to compete in NASCAR has always been one of my top career goals. It has been remarkable to represent BRANDT Professional Agriculture in Brazil since 2015 competing and racing for championships in the Porsche Carrera Cup. And to now get the opportunity to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series along with my teammate Justin Allgaier for BRANDT at JR Motorsports for three races is a dream that is coming true. I can’t wait to work with everyone on the No. 8 team and get ready for our first race on the road course at Daytona in a couple of weeks.”
Paludo, 37, will run the Daytona Road Course (February 20th), Circuit of the Americas (May 22nd) and Mid-Ohio (June 5th) for the organization and sponsorship will come from BRANDT Agriculture, who already sponsor the team’s No. 7 entry, which is driven by Justin Allgaier.
“We are thrilled to bring Miguel back to NASCAR racing as he has been instrumental in helping us grow our business in Brazil,” said Rick Brandt, president and CEO of BRANDT. “Overall, this initiative will enable us to entertain select Brazilian customers at some of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks where they’ll see one of their own take on the best in the world. This is going to be exciting.”
In two-career NXS starts, Paludo has a best finish of 13th, which came at Watkins Glen in 2012. The Brazillian ran three full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons between 2011 and 2013. In 2013, Paludo finished ninth in the NCWTS point standings and he scored a runner-up finish in the series at Pocono that same season.
Since leaving NASCAR, Paludo has stayed active in sports car racing and he has captured championships in the Porsche Carrera Cup Brazil. Overall, Paludo has collected six championships in that series.
