Salem: Brandon McReynolds preview

Brandon McReynolds and the Eddie Sharp Racing No. 6 Toyota will take the track at the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by ApplianceZone.com at Salem Speedway on April 11, 2010 at 2 PM.

First ARCA start for McReynolds- This weekend marks McReynolds's ARCA Racing Series debut as well as his first trip to Salem Speedway.

Successful Tests- McReynolds fielded an ESR car at the ARCA Racing Series open test at Texas Motor Speedway on March 9. In a successful test, McReynolds finished second quickest overall at 185.752 mph. He also traveled to Talladega this week with ESR for a private test at Talladega Superspeedway. McReynolds also partnered with ESR at the open-test in Daytona this past December. McReynolds found himself with a top-five fastest time the first two days, leading ESR and McReynolds to stay an extra day for drafting practice. The team once again found themselves in the top-five fastest in the eighteen-year-old's first laps in a draft.

Famous Family- McReynolds is son of former crew chief and current Fox race analyst Larry McReynolds. The young McReynolds grew up around the track when his dad was crew chief for racing greats like Dale Earnhardt and Davey Allison. He credits his success at the ARCA tests to his comfort level at the track.

ESR Success at Salem- Over the past three years, ESR has had success at Salem Speedway. In the 2009 spring race, ESR driver Justin Lofton won the pole and finished second. The same year, Lofton won the fall race at the southern Indiana track. In 2008, Scott Speed brought ESR two top-10 finishes at Salem in both the spring and fall races. Michael McDowell won the pole in the 2007 spring race and finished third. McDowell also finished third in the fall race.

McReynolds on his first ARCA start:

"I am excited for my first ARCA Racing Series start. For me to succeed this weekend, it is just a matter of getting used to the ARCA culture, getting comfortable with the car and experiencing thing in the race like live pit stops. Obviously, the test sessions we have done with ESR have been really successful, so I am looking forward to it."

McReynolds on his first trip to Salem:

"I've never even been to Salem in person. I've actually driven it a lot on my iRacing game trying to get prepared for this weekend as much as I can. I've never been there, so it should be a new experience."

On racing with Eddie Sharp Racing

"I definitely know I will have great equipment with ESR. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to run with this great team! I'm excited to get to the track and get comfortable in the car.

Eddie Sharp on McReynolds at Salem: "I am really excited about being part of Brandon's first ARCA Racing Series race this weekend at Salem. With his success with ESR at the previous tests, I think he is going to do really well in the No. 6 ESR car."

-source: esr