Jesse Little to Make Cup Debut with Premium at Kentucky

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

After earning back-to-back Top-10s in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the first time, Jesse Little will now make his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Kentucky Speedway. Little will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Premium Motorsports in the Quaker State 400.

Premium Motorsports earned its’ best finish of the season, 11^th, last weekend with Jeffrey Earnhardt behind the wheel. Little’s one-race deal will also be the 200^thstart for the fifth-year Cup team.

“I’m very humbled by this opportunity to make my Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Kentucky,” said Little. “There’s no expectations for Saturday night’s race other than to take the green flag and see the checkered flag. I would like to thank Jay Robinson for giving me the opportunity to gain valuable experience behind the wheel.”

Little, a part-time driver for his family-owned team in the Truck Series, has competed in five races this season, with four top-10 finishes. The Sherrills Ford, NC native earned his best career finish, sixth, at Iowa Speedway, and competed for the win at Dover International Speedway before receiving a pit road penalty. The team has about five more races scheduled, in part, because of the Truck Series’ switch to the NT1 Spec Engine.

“We’ve embraced 2018 with a good work ethic and a never-give up attitude and it has paid off for us so far,” added Little. “We’ve been very fortunate to have the support of Wings Over North Georgia Air Show and Rustic Rub Co. and look forward to building on those relationships as the year presses on.”

Little will be paired with 1999 Premier Series Championship crew chief Todd Parrott. He will be the seventh driver to work with Parrott this season and the ninth driver to drive one of the Jay Robinson-owned Chevrolets.

“As for Kentucky, it’s an opportunity for me to gain experience and seat time in the Cup Series and I’m looking forward to driving for Premium and working with crew chief Todd Parrott.”