Eddy Invited to Enter Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown

LOWER SACKVILLE, NS – For the first time ever a Maritime racer will compete in Denny Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown April 24 at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. Brad Eddy received the invitation last week from the Denny Hamlin Foundation and is still pinching himself to see if he was dreaming.

“This is the thrill of a lifetime,” said the 19-year-old 2011 NASCAR Track Champion. “To have the chance to race some of the biggest names in NASCAR is amazing to me. I’m still bewildered to realize this is going to happen.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers already confirmed on the entry list are Hamlin along with his two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, along with 2013 Talladega winner David Ragan, as well as national-series NASCAR drivers Elliott Sadler, Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton, Drew Herring and former racer and current television analyst Hermie Sadler. Several top late model drivers will also compete in the by-invitation-only race, which will benefit the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.

Since receiving his invitation a little more than a week ago Eddy has put together a deal with the Williams Ebeling race shop in Newton, North Carolina that will see them supply the late model race car for the event along with preparation and event team requirements. It will be the first time he has been in a late model since racing in North Carolina (for Williams Ebeling) in 2011. Eddy needs to come up with sponsorship for tires and other expenses to run the race but is confident he can do that.

“We’re committed to this,” said Eddy. “Hopefully a Canadian company (or companies) will jump on board to help us and at the same time gain valuable exposure. We will do our very best to represent our sponsors, our fans, and our home.”

The young racer’s fans, along with millions of others, can watch the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown live as it will be broadcast by Fox Sports 1 in the U.S. (generally picked up on Speed TV in Canada).

Eddy has been racing a limited schedule with a limited budget on the Maritime-based Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour the past two seasons with strong showings including several top five finishes. He is a Canadian INEX champion, Scotia Speedworld track champion, AMKA Provinical champion and rookie of the year. Brad is a second-generation racer and the son of former Maritime pro stock racer Dan Eddy.

Hamlin hopes to encourage more of his fellow NASCAR drivers to take part in the race. Busch is the defending champion and only three-time winner of the event. The event started in 2008 at Southside Speedway near Hamlin’s hometown of Chesterfield, VA before moving to Richmond International Raceway for the past three years. It is held the Thursday night before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series make their annual spring trek to Richmond International Raceway.

Eddy will arrive in North Carolina April 6 to allow time to prepare and test the race car before arriving at South Boston Speedway for the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on April 24.

Anyone interested in helping with sponsorship should contact Brad at 902.497.3278 or bradeddy0@gmail.com.