February 28, 2014 — team release — MEMPHIS, Tenn. – NASCAR veteran driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. will join Carter 2 Motorsports on a full-time basis for the 2014 ARCA Racing Series season.

Hamilton, who will drive the No. 40 Carter 2 Motorsports Dodge, will make his first start for the team in the ARCA-Mobile 200 at Mobile (Ala.) Int’l Speedway March 22.

The 36 year-old native of Nashville, Tenn. returns to ARCA after racing at all three levels of NASCAR competition.

“I’ve always liked running in ARCA,” said Hamilton, who recorded his first series start in 1998 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. “Plus I love the old school car that’s run in the series. I’m also thrilled to be going back to some of the historic short-tracks that ARCA runs on.”

The car that is presently campaigned by teams in ARCA Racing Series competition is termed the Generation Four car by NASCAR and was last run in Sprint Cup competition in 2007.

During his career, Hamilton has competed in 64 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, 253 Nationwide Series events and 37 Camping World Truck Series events. He has captured five victories in Nationwide Series competition.

“I’m pretty happy to be going back to the tracks that I have won at,” said Hamilton. “Plus I’m excited to get back to tracks like Salem (Ind.) Speedway. I ran there at the start of my career. It’s going to be like being a kid again when I go back to that place.”

In May 1997, Hamilton drove a Pontiac to a seventh place finish in the NASCAR All-Pro Series “Owens – Corning 250″ at Salem after leading 37 laps of the 250 lap event.

Team owner Roger Carter and Hamilton worked together in the past at Sadler Brothers Racing, a Nashville-based team owned by the late Earl Sadler. During 1998 and 1999, Hamilton drove in both NASCAR Nationwide and ARCA Racing Series competition for the team.

“I had the honor to be there with Bobby Hamilton Jr. at the beginning of his career,” Carter said. “I’m very happy with the level of experience that he brings to our team. I definitely believe that we can make it to victory lane in 2014. I think that would make old ‘Uncle’ Earl Sadler proud.”

Hamilton, son of NASCAR legend Bobby Hamilton, is looking to make a permanent home in the ARCA Racing Series.

“It’s a great series with a bunch of competitive teams,” said Hamilton. “I would love to finish in the Top-10 in driver points for 2014. I want to run the series until I retire and hopefully score a bunch of victories along the way. ARCA brings my career full-circle. It’s sort of like going back home.”