When they drop the green flag in Iowa today 20-year-old Austin Theriault will be just one of several young guns trying to win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Add in a few veteran drivers who have Sprint Cup experience and...well, welcome to the big time.

Fort Kent's Theriault cut his racing teeth at Spud Speedway in Caribou and has made the move south in an attempt to perhaps become the next Ricky Craven. Remember Craven cut his teeth at Unity Raceway and went on to race, and win, in all three of NASCAR's highest series - trucks, Nationwide and Sprint Cup.

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Theriault will start today's race from the 17th spot. His time during Saturday night qualifying was 133.866. This event will be the first of three races Theriault will run for Dale Earnhardt Jr's Nationwide team. Later in the summer, he will race in Louden, NH and in Kentucky.

Another young racer, Ryan Blaney, who is also 20, has the pole position.

18-year-old Chase Elliott, the son of NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, will start 6th.

Add in some veteran drivers like Elliott Sadler, Sam Hornish Jr, Regan Smith and you've got lots of competition.

 

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