DECORAH, Iowa – Tyler Bruening is set to run his first full season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this year as he pursues top rookie honors.

The pilot of the Skyline Motorsports No. 16 Bennett Explosives/Bruening Rock Products/Capital Race Car/Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model will tackle a national tour for the first time in his career.

Following a successful 2019 season that included nine wins, 25 top-five finishes and 32 top-10 outings, Bruening is confident the time is right for him to shift into the national spotlight.

“This is a big deal for me and my team,” Bruening explained. “We’ve been stepping out to some new tracks and events over the past few years and that has allowed us to make a lot of gains toward the success of our team. It’s an honor to be able to commit to the LOLMDS full-time. My primary goals are to be competitive and consistent each night and win the Rookie of the Year title.”

Bruening brings a wealth of experience behind the wheel to his quest of competing on the national tour. While he acknowledges the journey on the ultra-competitive tour will not be an effortless one, Bruening and his team are primed for the challenges ahead.

“I’ve been working toward this goal for a few years,” Bruening shared. “We’ve made a lot of preparations toward being able to do this, including me working to better myself as a driver. We have top-notch equipment and an experienced team that is well-prepared for what is ahead. With the help of Shane [Clanton] and Marshall [Green] we’ve been able to take our program to a whole new level.”

The Eibach Springs Rookie of the Year title with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series comes with a $10,000 cash prize at the seasons end, along with numerous other contingency awards.

“A lot of people play a role in the success of our season. I’m very excited to get the 2020 season underway and I want to thank everyone who supports this team to make these opportunities possible,” Bruening added.