Camping World Trucks - Miguel Paludo Preview

BLUEGRASS BOUND: One year ago Miguel Paludo traveled to the United States to embark on his new journey as a competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Last season, Paludo made his second of four Truck Series starts at Kentucky Speedway. He drove to a 20th-place finish. After two solid runs in the last two Truck Series events in 2011 at Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, Paludo and the No. 7 team hope to continue their forward momentum as they head to Kentucky, where the Nova Prata, Brazil native has already logged laps and has experience.

CAMP INDEPENDENCE: In late June, Paludo and his wife Patricia traveled to Greenville, South Carolina to attend a day long diabetes camp. Paludo served as keynote speaker to approximately 30 children ranging in age from 5 to 18 about coping with diabetes. Paludo, who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes seven years ago, is on a mission to educate children about diabetes and to send the message that even though a person has diabetes they can achieve any goal they may have. While at Camp Independence, which was held at Furman University, the kids placed their handprints in paint and decorated one of Paludo's No. 7 Toyota Tundra hoods. The team plans to run this hood at an upcoming race event.

TESTING 1, 2, 3:Paludo has been very busy during the break in the Truck Series schedule. Following his eighth place run at Texas Motor Speedway, Paludo and the No. 7 team headed to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in a two day test session. The team began preparing and gathering data to be used for the short-track and flat-track events that are on the horizon on the Truck Series schedule. Although the weather did not cooperate as planned, the team did learn some valuable information and Paludo gained some seat time in the No. 7 Toyota Tundra.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Last week, Paludo traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida where he joined Juan Pablo Montoya and other NASCAR diversity drivers to film a commercial. The TV spot will air in key Hispanic markets across the United States in an effort to reach a broader spectrum of NASCAR fans. The piece is scheduled to air later this season.