Paul Morris has secured a drive in the Stadium Super Truck Series scheduled for the Castrol Gold Coast 600 and an exclusive headline event at Sydney's Spotless Stadium.
The two-round series is the latest twist in the controversial 30-plus year career of Morris who partnered Chaz Mostert to victory in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 last year.
Morris, who garnered the nickname ‘Dirty Dangerous Dude', is the highest profile local signing for the event which starts on the V8 Supercars undercard from October 23-25 before moving to Sydney a week later.
The October 31 event at the Sydney Showground is the first time the Robby Gordon-run truck series has performed in a stadium environment outside North America.
Created by Nine Live, the event has triggered a tremendous amount of fan interest since Gordon's Super Trucks appeared on the bill at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide earlier this year.
For Morris, it will be the next phase in his career which was to have taken a lower profile following his surprise last-to-first Bathurst win in 2014.
A versatile competitor, Morris has driven in a variety of classes and formula since cutting his teeth in Queensland's one-make Holden Gemini series.
His current Sprintcar sponsor, Supercheap Auto, will has taken the naming rights sponsorship of his Super Truck entry.
“I have been itching to get into one of Robby Gordon's trucks since I first saw them a couple of years ago and now I will get my chance,” said Morris.
“The Stadium Super Trucks were a massive hit in Adelaide earlier this year and I think the fans are going to be in for one hell of a show at Spotless Stadium in Sydney.
“With the Castrol Gold Coast 600 event the week earlier, the two-round series is going to produce some serious racing, especially in stadium spec.
“It is going to be a classic USA versus Australia battle and we will be playing for keeps.”
The trucks, which cost more than $200,000 each, are decked out with heavy duty componentry throughout and develop 600bhp.
Morris will be one of a mix of Australian and American competitors in the 10-truck field with other announcements due in the coming weeks.
“He (Morris) will be great in a Stadium Super Truck and although it normally takes any driver a little time to dial in, I have no doubt he will be very competitive,” Gordon said.
“Having the reigning Bathurst champion in the show proves how big this is going to be.
“It seems the Australian fans have a love-hate relationship with Paul but I'm sure they will be cheering for him against the drivers from the US in October.
“His Sprintcar experience will come in handy on dirt at Spotless Stadium and his skill will take care of the rest.”
Supercheap Auto Marketing Manager, Dave Bauer, said the Super Trucks involvement caps off a big month of exposure for the company.
“Supercheap Auto has been a part a proud stakeholder in Australian motorsport for more than 20 years and our involvement with Paul (Morris) and the Stadium Super Truck events is another extension of that,” said Bauer.
“We have had a long-time association with Paul through a range of activities including his venture into sprintcar racing in recent years.
Tickets for the Stadium Super Trucks Spotless Stadium event on Saturday October 31 are on sale through Ticketek.com.au. Prices range from $44 to $129 for the Spotless Stadium event.