Brandon McReynolds, Eddie Sharp Racing news 2010-04-08

Brandon McReynolds to Team with Eddie Sharp Racing for at Least Two ARCA Racing Series Events

Sponsorship Secures Ride for Talladega, Partnership Begins This Weekend at Salem

MOORESVILLE, NC (April 8, 2010) -- Finally, 18-year-old Brandon McReynolds can take a deep breath, because he now sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

McReynolds, who has been patiently waiting for sponsorship to materialize so he can begin his 2010 racing season, has inked a deal with Eddie Sharp Racing to compete in two ARCA Racing Series events for the championship team. McReynolds first event will be this coming weekend in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at the legendary high-banked half-mile Salem Speedway in Salem, IN. McReynolds will then compete in the April 23rd Talladega ARCA 250 at Talladega Superspeedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.

The Talladega event was made possible with the help of a new marketing partner for McReynolds; Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame at the Davey Allison Memorial Park with support from Ken Allen and Allen Oil Company.

"I'm so excited to officially get my season underway and to do it with Eddie Sharp Racing in the ARCA Series," said McReynolds. "I've tested with ESR now twice (at Daytona in December and Texas in March) and we've been super fast on the track. We've worked well together as a team and I think that bodes well for these next couple of events.

"And I'm so happy to have the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame at the Davey Allison Memorial Park on the car at Talladega. That place holds a really special spot in my heart, as it does with a lot of long-time stock car fans. Plus, Davey was my Godfather, so to have the park that is named after him on my car when I turn my first competitive laps at Talladega will be really special. Davey was a special part of my family and I can only hope to carry him to Victory Lane come raceday."

The Davey Allison Memorial-Walk of Fame is a beautiful landscaped park that covers one full city block of downtown Talladega. Dedicated during the summer of 1994, the memorial is open 365 days a year with free admission.

The park serves as a memorial to the late Davey Allison, as well as a tribute to NASCAR "All Star" drivers that are chosen by the fans each year. The first inductees were the original "Alabama Gang" members (Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett) and were inducted by decree of The Board. All others have been "Fan Favorites" voted in by the fans.

The 2010 Induction Ceremony will be at the Park on Saturday evening, October 30th at 7:00pm prior to the fall Sprint Cup Series race in Talladega. For more information on this event, go to www.talladegawalk.com.

Davey is recognized by a large marble monument while the drivers have bronze plaques that are placed around the park. The park is designed in the shape of the Talladega Super Speedway with walk ways, simulating the asphalt track.

'"It really is a cool place and I've been there before many many times with my dad and family," added McReynolds. "To see all the names of some of the great drivers who have ever raced is really cool. And to know that it is all chosen by fans makes it even cooler. Hopefully, people that come down for the ARCA race and the entire Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series weekend take some time to go to the park during their visit."

McReynolds took part in the test session at Talladega Superspeedway on Tuesday, April 6th for Eddie Sharpe Racing to prepare fore the upcoming event.

But before Talladega, McReynolds will first compete at Salem Speedway with ESR. The team is fielding a car for McReynolds at the legendary short track so the youngster can get a full race weekend under his belt with ESR to help build chemistry with the team and Crew Chief Wayne Carroll before the Talladega event.

"I'm excited for Salem because it takes the short tracks that I've been used to racing all my life and mixes it with the heavier ARCA-style cars, which I'm just learning with ESR. Hopefully, I can take what I've learned in the couple of ARCA tests that I've done and mix it with the short track experience that I've already got and come out of Salem with a top-five. Maybe we'll even be good enough to compete for the win. That would really just be icing on the cake."

Even with the sponsorship support of the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame, the team still has substantial opportunities left for a company to be a part of this race, which would include signage on the quarter panels and deck lid. Any inquiries, please call Team McReynolds shop at 704-799-9170 for more details.

Brandon is coming off the most successful season in his young racing career. Brandon piloted his #28 Team McReynolds Dodge to three wins and three poles in 16 UARA-Stars Series starts, coming home third in the final point standings. He also had seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes along the way. In addition to his UARA accomplishments, McReynolds finished second in the annual Bailey's 300 at Martinsville Speedway in early October.

Team McReynolds hopes to move to the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series or USA Racing Pro Cup Series for the 2010 season, along with continuing to run a handful of UARA events. Brandon also has it on his schedule to compete in a 250 lap NASCAR Late Model event at Southside Speedway in VA. This race is sponsored by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Denny Hamlin and will run on the Thursday night prior to the Sprint Cup Weekend at the Richmond International Raceway in late April.

-source: brandon mcreynolds PR