Five-time Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael is expected to announce today in Las Vegas that he has signed a multiyear agreement to join Bobby Ginn's MB2 Motorsports team as a developmental driver in its NASCAR racing program.
Carmichael is in town for this weekend's U.S. Open Supercross event at the MGM Grand Garden, where he has scheduled a "major" announcement for 3 p.m. today. He will try to retain his U.S. Open title Friday and Saturday.
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Carmichael is expected to compete in select Supercross and Motocross events next year around a stock car schedule that will progress from driving Late Models cars to regional ARCA races and possibly the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, according to a NASCAR source.
Carmichael could not be reached for comment but has said in the past year he was interested in testing the NASCAR waters.
"I'm definitely interested in racing on four wheels," he said in a teleconference last month.
"I did some testing back in July. ... I know I'm lacking in seat time. If I had to do a year in a Late Model and a year in ARCA, I'd be willing to do that to get up to speed. I just don't want to rush into anything; I want to go at my own pace.
"But I won't ever turn my back on Supercross and Motocross, because this sport has been very good to me over the years."
Carmichael, who turns 27 next month, said in May he planned to retire from racing full time in Supercross and Motocross after the U.S. Open. He won the AMA Supercross and Outdoor National motocross titles this year to give him a total of 12 championships.
It has been a big week for the MB2 team, which announced Monday the addition of veteran Mark Martin, who, after 19 years with Roush Racing, will join MB2 after the Nextel Cup season.
Joe Nemechek will continue to drive in the Cup series for MB2.
