Bryan Davis Keith, lead Nationwide Series writer for Frontstretch.com and a contributing writer for THL, had a chance to sit down with Roush Racing driver Colin Braun to discuss his rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Bryan Davis Keith: You’ve got a lot of help on the Nationwide Series side. You’ve got a fellow rookie in Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who’s making his full-time debut in the series and you’ve got two Cup veterans driving for Roush this year. What has the teamwork dynamic been like among you four?

Colin Braun : Well I think it’s been really good. It’s great to have Cup veterans in Paul and Carl [around]. Especially Carl, with all the experience he’s had recently in the Nationwide Series, winning the championship a couple of years ago and the performance he’s had. I feel like Carl really brings a lot to the table, and Ricky and I have been asking Carl a lot of questions and trying to get as much advice as we can.

Keith: Looking at what Carl has done on the NNS side, what would you say to those that question why he’s still out there running full-time?

Braun: I don’t really know. I think Carl’s a race car driver, and he loves to drive race cars. He’s got a great opportunity obviously with the equipment that Jack Roush provides all of his teams to go out and win races and you know, I think he really enjoys the opportunity to go out and do that.

Keith: You’re entering into a unique season for the Nationwide Series, as we’re going to be seeing a new car midseason. What kind of a curveball does that throw at you when you’re already having to adjust from the trucks to the Nationwide car? Are you already looking down the road towards the COT races?

Braun: I think right now my main focus is on figuring out the old Nationwide car, the current car that we’re running right now. We’ve had the opportunity to test [the new car] a couple times, and I think it’s gone really well. The new car drives a little bit more like the trucks did, so I feel a bit more comfortable in those cars and I’m certainly looking forward to getting out there and racing that new Mustang.

Keith: You’re one of the few development drivers out there that’s been fortunate enough to have a sponsor stick with them for years at a time. From your perspective, talking to a sponsor looking to enter the sport, what would you tell them is the benefit of sponsoring a younger driver such as yourself?

Braun: Well I think there’s an opportunity to create a long relationship, to get in on the ground floor of a career that’s going somewhere. I think there’s a lot to be said about companies like Con-Way Freight. They came in here and sponsored me when things were rough the first couple years. They stuck with me, and we ended up winning races, had a lot of poles last year, and I think they got a lot of value out of that. To me it’s really awesome that there are some companies out there that want to do that, that want to be with the younger drivers and be part of growing as a driver and a sponsor together.

Keith: Is there anyone outside the Roush garage that you’re leaning on for advice?

Braun: Not really. There’s some veterans in the Truck Series that I’ve become good friends with, and that I’ll ask a lot of questions. You know, I think I have such a good teacher in Carl Edwards, and Menard. I think that those guys have so much information to provide that I’ll lean on Carl hard.

Keith: Carl’s a new father. Do you have any concern that that will change his perspective as the season goes forward?

Braun: I don’t really know. It’s hard for me to say without having talked to him much about it. I don’t really have any comment on that. Certainly we talk as friends and he gives me advice and things like that, but we’ve never really talked about that.

Keith: Looking forward to 2010, you won Rookie of the Year in trucks, you’re running for it here this season. Beyond trying to win that title, what will constitute a successful season for you in the Nationwide Series?

Braun: I think you hit the nail on the head. The Rookie of the Year title is the number one goal we’re trying to reach. Beyond that, we’re looking to be a consistent top 5, top 10 team. We’re looking to stay close to the Cup guys week in and week out, and always be out there, always be one of the guys in the top 5, top 10. I think if we can do that we’ll be pretty happy.

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Keith: Looking down the road, you’re one step from the biggest stage the sport has to offer. Do you ever think about where you’re going to fit in that picture? Obviously Roush has already had to downsize and there’s not a lot of open rides out there right now.

Braun: I haven’t given a lot of thought to it. I’ve just been trying to focus on driving the Truck Series the last couple of seasons and now doing a good job on the NNS circuit. I think if I do that, the rest will kind of take care of itself.

Keith: You’re running a 35 race schedule for the first time. Are there any tracks in particular you’re excited to tackle for the first time or concerned about?

Braun: The only place I’ve never ever driven on before is Darlington. I’ve heard all the stories about Darlington, and I’m sure its going to be a challenging place to go for the first time. The only other place I haven’t actually raced before is Richmond, but I’ve tested at Richmond. Darlington’s going to be a tough one. It’s going to be a challenging one, and I hope we can do well at that.

Keith: Road America got added to the schedule. Are you excited about adding a third road course given your background?

Braun: You know, it does excite me a little bit, but I’m going to miss racing at Milwaukee. I like racing there a lot, that place is so cool. It’s a really unique place to race, and I’m kind of disappointed that we don’t get to go there anymore. That said, I’m certainly looking forward to going to Road America.

Keith: Do you have the Texas race circled on your calendar at all?

Braun: I do. I have the Texas race on my calendar, and I think I’ve got the Michigan race on there as well. For me, winning at Texas would be huge, [and] for Ford Motor Company, Con-Way and Jack Roush winning at Michigan is always big. Those are definitely the races I’m going to focus on.

Keith: As it stands, Con-Way’s on board for 18 races. With still half a season left open, how is the sponsorship search going?

Braun: Well I think it’s going OK. We’re certainly looking to get some marketing partners to put on our car, and its great to have Con-Way Freight on board, they’ve been an important partner for me the last few seasons in the truck series, and [like I said] it was really cool to see them move up with me to the Nationwide Series. You know, we’re looking to try to find the right partner, and to anyone that wants to sponsor us, we’re definitely interested in talking.

Bryan Davis Keith is the lead Nationwide Series writer for Frontstretch.com