Talladega: Brandon McReynolds preview

Brandon McReynolds and the Eddie Sharp Racing No. 6 Toyota will take the track at Talladega Super Speedway for his second ARCA Racing Series start.

Debut at Salem: McReynolds made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Salem Speedway on April 11, 2010. The Mooresville, N.C. native qualified 14th, impressing both competitors and team owner Eddie Sharp with his solid qualifying run. McReynolds ran well at the beginning of the race but ran into trouble as he battled with another car. The No. 6 suffered a hole in the radiator and engine problems, which ended the day early for McReynolds. The No. 6 finished 26th.

The Godfather: This weekend at Talladega, McReynolds will have a new partner for the ESR No. 6: The Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame at the Davey Allison Memorial Park. The park honors the famed NASCAR driver Davey Allison, who was the Godfather of McReynolds. The memorial is a beautiful landscaped park that covers one full city block of downtown Talladega. The park was dedicated in the summer of 1994 and serves as a memorial to the late Davey Allison and a tribute to NASCAR "all-star" drivers chosen by fans each year.

Working with Eddie Sharp Racing: This is McReynolds' second ARCA Racing Series start with the Eddie Sharp Racing crew. The ESR No. 6 won the Talladega race last April with Justin Lofton at the wheel. Lofton went on to claim the 2009 ARCA Racing Series crown.

Showdown with Denny Hamlin: McReynolds will compete in the Short Track Showdown on April 29, 2010 at Southside Speedway in Midlothian, V.A. The annual race is hosted by the Denny Hamlin Foundation, and proceeds go the foundation created to raise funds and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. McReynolds will compete against NASCAR stars such as Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Aric Almirola, Marcus Ambrose, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.

Alabama Connection: Larry McReynolds, father of the 18-year-old driver, was born 50 miles east of Talladega Superspeedway in Birmingham, A.L. The racing analyst on Fox Sports and retired crew chief has been integral in his son's racing career.

McReynolds on Talladega:

"I am really looking forward to racing at Talladega. Except for the ESR private test, I haven't been down there since I was a little kid. I learned a lot from the Salem Speedway race, and I can't wait to take what I have learned back to the track. We are taking the car Nelson Piquet Jr. qualified fifth in February at Daytona International Speedway because of how well it ran. At Talladega, you never really know where you are going to end up, but I cannot wait to get out there and race."

On the No. 6 Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame at the Davey Allison Memorial Park:

"I'm so happy to have the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame at the Davey Allison Memorial Park on the car at Talladega. It 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."

-source: esr