Eddie Sharp Racing
Encyclopedia
Eddie Sharp Racing is a team based in Denver
, North Carolina
that currently competes in the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series. The team currently fields the No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet Silverado
for Justin Lofton
and the No. 33 Rheem
Chevrolet Silverado
for Cale Gale
in the Truck Series, as well as two cars in ARCA.
team and was the crew chief for Bill Baird
during his championship-winning 1999 ARCA season. The team made its debut in 2006 with former Grand-Am driver Michael McDowell
running a limited schedule. McDowell and Sharp ran full time in 2007, running the No. 2 Make-A-Wish Foundation
Dodge. McDowell grabbed four wins in his rookie season but finished second in the championship to Frank Kimmel
. ESR also fielded the No. 22 Dodge, with Josh Wise
and Ken Butler III sharing the ride, with Butler winning at Toledo Speedway
. With McDowell moving on to Michael Waltrip Racing, Sharp expanded to three teams and switched to running Toyotas, hiring former Scuderia Toro Rosso
Formula 1 driver Scott Speed
to drive the No. 2, while retaining Butler for the full season and fielding a third car that was initially the No. 93 driven by Pierre Borque. The team soon changed numbers to 20 and Borque was soon replaced by Justin Lofton
for the rest of the year. ESR dominated the season, with Speed winning four races en route to a second place finish in the championship and Lofton won at Michigan.
With Speed heading to the Sprint Cup Series, ESR gained a reputation of fielding championship-caliber drivers. In 2009, Lofton stayed on with ESR for the full season as the team expanded to a fourth car, the No. 81 for Camping World Series East driver Craig Goess. The No. 2 would be driven by another Grand-Am driver, Tim George, Jr., and the 20 would be driven by Canadian Steve Arpin
on a part-time basis. Lofton won ESR's first ever championship that seaon, grabbing an impressive four wins, while Goess and Arpin impressed many. Like his predecessors, Lofton moved to Red Horse Racing
to run for the Camping World Truck Series title in 2010, while Goess returned for the full season. ESR ran only Goess' 81 for the full season, while continuing to field the 6 for a bevy of drivers, including another former F1 driver, Nelson Piquet, Jr., Blake Koch
, Brandon McReynolds (son of FOX broadcaster Larry McReynolds
), and others. Goess had a solid season, winning only once at Pocono
but finishing second in points to Patrick Sheltra
.
For 2012, Eddie Sharp purchased the assets of Kevin Harvick Incorporated
, specifically the 8 and 33 trucks driven by Piquet and Ron Hornaday
. Cale Gale
will drive the 33 in 2012 with sponsorship from Rheem
.
Denver, North Carolina
Denver, formerly known as "Dry Pond," is an unincorporated community located in Lincoln County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is situated on North Carolina State Highway 16 on the west side of Lake Norman on the Catawba River...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
that currently competes in the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series. The team currently fields the No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Justin Lofton
Justin Lofton
Justin Lofton is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #6 Chevrolet Silverado for Eddie Sharp Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series....
and the No. 33 Rheem
Rheem
Rheem is a privately held manufacturing company that started in 1927 as a supplier of packagings to the petroleum industry.-Divisions:*Rheem Water Heating*Ruud Water Heating*Rheem Air conditioning*Ruud Air Conditioning Division*Solahart*Raypak...
Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Cale Gale
Cale Gale
Cale Gale is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado for Eddie Sharp Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Karting:...
in the Truck Series, as well as two cars in ARCA.
ARCA
The team was formed by former driver and crew chief Eddie Sharp in 2005. Sharp had formerly owned his own ASAAmerican Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
team and was the crew chief for Bill Baird
Bill Baird
William F. "Bill" Baird is the founder of the Pro Choice League. Baird established the nation's first abortion referral center in 1964, and later the first birth control and abortion center on a college campus. He was sent to jail for teaching birth control and distributing abortion literature in...
during his championship-winning 1999 ARCA season. The team made its debut in 2006 with former Grand-Am driver Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell (NASCAR)
Michael Christopher McDowell is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #66 Toyota Camry for HP Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the #18 Pizza Ranch Toyota Camry part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
running a limited schedule. McDowell and Sharp ran full time in 2007, running the No. 2 Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
Dodge. McDowell grabbed four wins in his rookie season but finished second in the championship to Frank Kimmel
Frank Kimmel
Franklin James Kimmel is an American stock car driver/owner. He drives the #44 Ansell Gloves/Menards Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Kimmel has won the ARCA championship nine times, including eight consecutive...
. ESR also fielded the No. 22 Dodge, with Josh Wise
Josh Wise
Josh Wise is a NASCAR driver who currently runs in its Nationwide Series. He drives the #7 Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports and the #39 Ford Mustang for Go Green Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He is a former member of the driver development program for Michael Waltrip Racing...
and Ken Butler III sharing the ride, with Butler winning at Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
. With McDowell moving on to Michael Waltrip Racing, Sharp expanded to three teams and switched to running Toyotas, hiring former Scuderia Toro Rosso
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Scuderia Toro Rosso , also known simply as Toro Rosso or by its abbreviation STR, is an Italian Formula One racing team...
Formula 1 driver Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
to drive the No. 2, while retaining Butler for the full season and fielding a third car that was initially the No. 93 driven by Pierre Borque. The team soon changed numbers to 20 and Borque was soon replaced by Justin Lofton
Justin Lofton
Justin Lofton is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #6 Chevrolet Silverado for Eddie Sharp Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series....
for the rest of the year. ESR dominated the season, with Speed winning four races en route to a second place finish in the championship and Lofton won at Michigan.
With Speed heading to the Sprint Cup Series, ESR gained a reputation of fielding championship-caliber drivers. In 2009, Lofton stayed on with ESR for the full season as the team expanded to a fourth car, the No. 81 for Camping World Series East driver Craig Goess. The No. 2 would be driven by another Grand-Am driver, Tim George, Jr., and the 20 would be driven by Canadian Steve Arpin
Steve Arpin
Steve Arpin is a Canadian stock car driver competing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and previously, the NASCAR Nationwide Series. His first season with ARCA was in 2009 finishing 7th in the championship standings and winning the ARCA RE/MAX Series Most Popular...
on a part-time basis. Lofton won ESR's first ever championship that seaon, grabbing an impressive four wins, while Goess and Arpin impressed many. Like his predecessors, Lofton moved to Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing is an American racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is co-owned by business executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR on Fox broadcaster Jeff Hammond...
to run for the Camping World Truck Series title in 2010, while Goess returned for the full season. ESR ran only Goess' 81 for the full season, while continuing to field the 6 for a bevy of drivers, including another former F1 driver, Nelson Piquet, Jr., Blake Koch
Blake Koch
Blake Koch is an American race car driver who races for MacDonald Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the #81 Daystar Dodge Challenger.-Early career:...
, Brandon McReynolds (son of FOX broadcaster Larry McReynolds
Larry McReynolds
Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III is a former NASCAR crew chief and currently serves as a racing analyst on Fox Sports, TNT and a columnist on Foxsports.com. He currently lives in Mooresville, North Carolina...
), and others. Goess had a solid season, winning only once at Pocono
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
but finishing second in points to Patrick Sheltra
Patrick Sheltra
Patrick Sheltra is an American professional race car driver and owner. Sheltra was the 2010 ARCA Racing Series season champion and he currently runs a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Rick Ware Racing...
.
NASCAR
ESR made its first foray into NASCAR in late 2010. ESR had purchased the assets of Team Gill Racing and had fielded Craig Goess full time in 2011 for Rookie of the Year. Goess and ESR parted ways in June 2011. Justin Lofton was brought in to drive the No. 6 Chevy for the remainder of the 2011 season.For 2012, Eddie Sharp purchased the assets of Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated was a NASCAR team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, who herself is the daughter of a former Busch Series driver, John Linville...
, specifically the 8 and 33 trucks driven by Piquet and Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
. Cale Gale
Cale Gale
Cale Gale is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado for Eddie Sharp Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Karting:...
will drive the 33 in 2012 with sponsorship from Rheem
Rheem
Rheem is a privately held manufacturing company that started in 1927 as a supplier of packagings to the petroleum industry.-Divisions:*Rheem Water Heating*Ruud Water Heating*Rheem Air conditioning*Ruud Air Conditioning Division*Solahart*Raypak...
.