It’s Denny Time – Eddy Invited to Hamlin Short Track Showdown

Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia’s Brad Eddy is about to make his return to racing south of the border in a big way.

The 19-year old has received an invitation from the Denny Hamlin Foundation to take part in the 2014 edition of the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, taking place Thursday, April 24th at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway.  According to a team release, Eddy will race a Chevrolet powered Townsend / Oliver Racing Chassis out of the Williams Ebeling Race Shop based in Newton, North Carolina. The Williams Ebeling Racing stable is the same shop in which Eddy’s 2011 Tri-County Motor Speedway (NC) NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model Stock track championship winning car came out of.

“I am honored to have been chosen to race in this incredible event,” said Eddy in the release. “To get to race against some of the biggest names in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, that I’ve watched as a kid, will be the thrill of a lifetime. It will be a tough race to qualify for but I will do my very best to represent all the racers and fans of Atlantic Canada.”

In the past, up to 50 Late Model Stock teams have received invitations to compete in the event, including a Who’s Who of short track racing. While the full list has not been released, a list of NASCAR stars has already been announced, including former event winners Hamlin and Kyle Busch, 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, Elliott and Hermie Sadler, Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton and Drew Herring.

The event began back in 2008 and continues to be a staple fundraiser for the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which aids in raising awareness and funding for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment, as well as to support other not for profit corporations that focus on aiding children with debilitating illnesses. Kyle Busch won the first two events held at Southside Speedway outside of Richmond while C.E. Falk won the final Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown held at Southside, using a bump and run on Hamlin to seal the victory. The race has been held at the Richmond International Raceway in the past three seasons, paired as a double header with the NASCAR K&N Series. Hamlin won the inaugural race at Richmond in 2011, while NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart came home with the win in 2012. Last season, Busch became the first three time champion of the event by winning the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown in 2013.

The team is looking for marketing and advertising partners to join Eddy on this historic journey. “Hopefully a Canadian company will jump on board as a sponsor,” said Eddy. More information on how to contact Eddy to discuss advertising opportunit can be found through his website, BradEddy.com.

In the past, the race has been covered nationally by the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and Fox Sports 1 (formerly Speed Channel), reaching millions of race fans every season.

Eddy ran for the Rookie of the Year award on the 2012 edition of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, which included a career best third place finish on the series at the 48th River Glade International at Petty Raceway. The 2013 campaign saw Eddy run part-time on the competitive Pro Late Model series.

To follow all of Brad’s racing endeavors, be sure to follow him on Twitter at @BradEddyRacing and on Facebook at facebook.com/BradEddyRacing.

Photo by Speedshots.ca.