Eric McClure
Encyclopedia
Eric McClure is a NASCAR
driver. His family owns the Sprint Cup team Morgan-McClure Motorsports
. A graduate of Emory and Henry College
, he currently drives the #14 Hefty
Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for TriStar Motorsports.
, driving the #04 I Can Learn Chevy in 2004. He made the field in 35th position, and went on to finish 26th. McClure then attempted to make the July race at Daytona
, but did not qualify.
McClure then landed a ride with the #73 Raabe Racing Enterprises
Chevy for 2005. McClure did not qualify for the first two races, but did make the race at Las Vegas
, starting 41st. His engine blew mid-way through the race and relegated McClure to 32nd. McClure left the team that week and did not run until August, when he attempted three races with Front Row Motorsports
. However, McClure did not make any of those races. In 2006 he attempted and made the UAW-Ford 500 handling issues relegated him to a 32nd place finish in the 04 Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Chevy, with sponsorship from Hefty
In 2008, Eric attempted the Daytona 500 in the #37 Front Row Motorsports Chevy sponsored by Hefty, but failed to qualify.
On April 11, 2009, Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced they would be attempting the Talladega race in April, after a year and a half absence from the sport. Eric McClure attempted to qualify the Hefty sponsored #4 Chevrolet but did not make the field.
. He qualified the #05 I Can Learn Chevy in 22nd and finished 26th despite an accident.
McClure made four starts in 2004, running two races for his family team (MMM) and two more for Mac Hill Motorsports. His best run was at Memphis
, where he finished 22nd. He also finished three of his four starts.
McClure added eight starts in 2005, seven for Means Racing
, but only managed a best finish of 30th at Texas
. McClure did attract the eye of James Finch
and ran one race for that team at Daytona. However, he finished 32nd with a blown engine and did not follow that run up with any starts, returning to Means. McClure did not qualify for two '05 races. At Bristol
, McClure was sent home because of a rainout of qualifying, and at Memphis, McClure missed the field by one spot.
For the 2007 season, McClure teamed up with Davis Motorsports for a 32 race schedule. McClure brought sponsor Hefty
to the team with him.
He drove for Front Row Motorsports
in the Busch Series in 2008, with Hefty
sponsoring the car for all the races in the #24 Chevrolet. He scored his best career finish of 15th in the Aaron's 312
at Talladega
.
In 2009, he and sponsor Hefty moved to Rensi/Hamilton Racing, where he drove the #24 Ford Fusion. This proved to be a good move; he qualified for every race and finished a career best 17th in the final points standings. McClure stuck with the team, now Team Rensi Motorsports, for 2010. However, performance slipped and the economic downturn forced McClure to be cautious with the team's equipment, with Rensi bringing a second team over for COT races that was raced by Kelly Bires. Despite this, McClure finished 24th in points but announced his departure from Rensi on November 30. According to McClure, Rensi's budget was so low to the point that they would rarely have full tire allotments for the races after Las Vegas, with most of the allotments going to the races run with Bires. McClure announced on December 1 that he and Hefty would move to Tri-Star Motorsports
for 2011 alongside veterans Mike Bliss
and Jeff Green
. It was further announced in January that Tri-Star Motorsports will change their car numbers, with McClure piloting the #14.
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...
driver. His family owns the Sprint Cup team Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports is an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time until 2007 and now occasionally attempts races. It has been in operation for 27 years, starting in 1982. The team is most notable for running the #4 from 1983 to 2009.-Starting...
. A graduate of Emory and Henry College
Emory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
, he currently drives the #14 Hefty
Hefty
Hefty is a brand name of trash bags, trash cans, foam disposable tableware, children’s disposable tableware, slider closure food storage and freezer bags, and disposable cookware. Hefty is a registered trademark of Pactiv Corporation...
Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for TriStar Motorsports.
Sprint Cup Series Career
McClure has made two Cup career starts in his career. His debut came at TalladegaTalladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, driving the #04 I Can Learn Chevy in 2004. He made the field in 35th position, and went on to finish 26th. McClure then attempted to make the July race at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, but did not qualify.
McClure then landed a ride with the #73 Raabe Racing Enterprises
Raabe Racing Enterprises
Raabe Racing Enterprises is an American auto racing team that drove in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. It was run by businessman Ed Raabe and owned by a family trust. the family trust got into racing when it was originally part owner of the #13 Daytona Speed Inc. driven by Greg Sacks...
Chevy for 2005. McClure did not qualify for the first two races, but did make the race at Las Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, starting 41st. His engine blew mid-way through the race and relegated McClure to 32nd. McClure left the team that week and did not run until August, when he attempted three races with Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
. However, McClure did not make any of those races. In 2006 he attempted and made the UAW-Ford 500 handling issues relegated him to a 32nd place finish in the 04 Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports is an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time until 2007 and now occasionally attempts races. It has been in operation for 27 years, starting in 1982. The team is most notable for running the #4 from 1983 to 2009.-Starting...
Chevy, with sponsorship from Hefty
Hefty
Hefty is a brand name of trash bags, trash cans, foam disposable tableware, children’s disposable tableware, slider closure food storage and freezer bags, and disposable cookware. Hefty is a registered trademark of Pactiv Corporation...
In 2008, Eric attempted the Daytona 500 in the #37 Front Row Motorsports Chevy sponsored by Hefty, but failed to qualify.
On April 11, 2009, Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced they would be attempting the Talladega race in April, after a year and a half absence from the sport. Eric McClure attempted to qualify the Hefty sponsored #4 Chevrolet but did not make the field.
Nationwide Series Career
McClure made his Busch Series debut in 2003, running at Rockingham SpeedwayNorth Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
. He qualified the #05 I Can Learn Chevy in 22nd and finished 26th despite an accident.
McClure made four starts in 2004, running two races for his family team (MMM) and two more for Mac Hill Motorsports. His best run was at Memphis
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
, where he finished 22nd. He also finished three of his four starts.
McClure added eight starts in 2005, seven for Means Racing
Jimmy Means
James "Jimmy" Means is a former Winston Cup/Nextel Cup owner/driver. Currently, he is an adviser for Front Row Motorsports and owns his own team, Means Racing. He competed in NASCAR for eighteen years in mostly his own equipment, posting seventeen career top-tens...
, but only managed a best finish of 30th at Texas
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. McClure did attract the eye of James Finch
James Finch
James Finch is a Panama City, Florida-born businessman. He is the owner of Phoenix Construction, a construction company that specializes in airport construction, and the Phoenix Racing team in NASCAR. They field the #1 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray in the Nationwide Series...
and ran one race for that team at Daytona. However, he finished 32nd with a blown engine and did not follow that run up with any starts, returning to Means. McClure did not qualify for two '05 races. At Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, McClure was sent home because of a rainout of qualifying, and at Memphis, McClure missed the field by one spot.
For the 2007 season, McClure teamed up with Davis Motorsports for a 32 race schedule. McClure brought sponsor Hefty
Hefty
Hefty is a brand name of trash bags, trash cans, foam disposable tableware, children’s disposable tableware, slider closure food storage and freezer bags, and disposable cookware. Hefty is a registered trademark of Pactiv Corporation...
to the team with him.
He drove for Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
in the Busch Series in 2008, with Hefty
Hefty
Hefty is a brand name of trash bags, trash cans, foam disposable tableware, children’s disposable tableware, slider closure food storage and freezer bags, and disposable cookware. Hefty is a registered trademark of Pactiv Corporation...
sponsoring the car for all the races in the #24 Chevrolet. He scored his best career finish of 15th in the Aaron's 312
Aaron's 312
The Aaron's 312 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway. The race's sponsor, Aaron's, is a lease-to-own retailer. The twelve extra miles are tacked on to what would normally be a race for targeted advertising purposes....
at Talladega
Talladega
Talladega can have multiple uses:*Talladega, Alabama, a city in northern Alabama, USA*Talladega County, Alabama, which has the city of Talladega as its seat*Talladega National Forest in Alabama...
.
In 2009, he and sponsor Hefty moved to Rensi/Hamilton Racing, where he drove the #24 Ford Fusion. This proved to be a good move; he qualified for every race and finished a career best 17th in the final points standings. McClure stuck with the team, now Team Rensi Motorsports, for 2010. However, performance slipped and the economic downturn forced McClure to be cautious with the team's equipment, with Rensi bringing a second team over for COT races that was raced by Kelly Bires. Despite this, McClure finished 24th in points but announced his departure from Rensi on November 30. According to McClure, Rensi's budget was so low to the point that they would rarely have full tire allotments for the races after Las Vegas, with most of the allotments going to the races run with Bires. McClure announced on December 1 that he and Hefty would move to Tri-Star Motorsports
Tri-Star Motorsports
TriStar Motorsports is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. They currently field the #14 Hefty Chevrolet for Eric McClure, the #19 Chevrolet for Mike Bliss, and the #44 Chevrolet for Jeff Green and Charles Lewandoski...
for 2011 alongside veterans Mike Bliss
Mike Bliss
Michael Bliss is a NASCAR driver who has run in all three major series. He currently drives the #19 Chevrolet Impala for TriStar Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He began racing at age 10...
and Jeff Green
Jeff Green (NASCAR)
Jeffery Green is an American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives part time in the Nationwide Series for Tri-Star Motorsports in their #44 entry and the Sprint Cup Series for Front Row Motorsports in their #55 entry.Green's 1990 Nashville Speedway USA championship...
. It was further announced in January that Tri-Star Motorsports will change their car numbers, with McClure piloting the #14.
External links
- Official Website
- Drivers statistics at racing-reference.info
- McClure happy to be home in Bristol http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9016167