Brad Eddy Seeking Funding to Run Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown

For the second consecutive season, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia’s Brad Eddy has received the chance to run against some of the best in the short track industry at South Boston Speedway.

When the list of drivers was announced earlier this week for the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown (DHSTS), Eddy’s name was amongst the 73 drivers on the invite list. The April 23rd event, entering its eighth season in 2015, is an invitation only race and is in benefit of the Denny Hamlin Foundation and their work with Cystic Fibrosis. Eddy is the only Canadian on the invitation list, which features a star studded list of NASCAR short track stars, including defending winner Matt Bowling, Matt Waltz, Josh Berry, David Garbo, Keith Rocco, Kaz Grala, Ryan Preece, among others.

You can view the full list by visiting Race22.com.

The DHSTS was first run in 2008 at Southside Speedway in Chesterfield, Virginia, before moving to the Richmond International Raceway in 2011. The race made the trek to the South Boston Speedway for the 2014 edition and will remain at the track in 2015. The race is held on the same weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the Richmond International Raceway, and boasts a win list which includes Hamlin, Kyle Busch and three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. C.E. Falk (2010) and Bowling are the only two non-NASCAR stars to win the event in the seven year history. Last season, Hamlin, Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jeb Burton, Timothy Peters, Hermie Sadler and David Ragan were amongst the NASCAR National Series talents in the field. The list of NASCAR stars for the 2015 event has yet to be released.

One year ago, Eddy raced the event for Hedgecock Racing, where he finished 12th of the 36 who qualified for the 200-lap event. The event utilizes the NASCAR Late Model Stock car, the type of race car in which Eddy won his 2011 NASCAR Whelen All American Series track championship at Tri-County Motor Speedway (NC) but is different than the car he would campaign at home on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour.

In order for Eddy to compete at the event again, he must first secure funding to make the trip.

The team has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help crowdfund a portion of the trip. As of March 12th, less than 24 hours into the campaign, the page has received $1,200 of the goal set at $30,000. Brad and his team are also looking for corporate partners to help ease the pain on the team’s pocketbook.

Brad has enjoyed success at every level of stock car racing he has been at in Atlantic Canada. He is an AMKA Karting champion, a Scotia Speedworld track champion and INEX Canadian champion in Bandoleros and has seen success on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. His Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour career is highlighted by a second place run in his rookie season on the series in the prestigious 48th River Glade International in 2012 at Petty International Raceway. In addition to his DHSTS start, he made three Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour appearances in 2014 under the watchful eye of Maritime veteran Mike MacKenzie. Eddy has three top fives and 10 top ten finishes in 17 starts over the past three seasons with the Tour, considered by many as one of the most competitive and prestigious short track based Late Model series in Canada.

Eddy also made the Tim’s Corner Motorsports (TCM) 2014 Atlantic Canadian Short Track Draft list, profiling the top ten young talents in Atlantic Canada as chosen by the TCM panel. Eddy’s fans also spoke last fall by bringing him to the runner-up position in the TCM Most Popular Driver voting of over 80+ drivers nominated.

The DHSTS was broadcast nationally in 2014 within the United States on tape delay. Broadcast info for the event is to be announced. Tickets are on sale for the Thursday, April 23rd event for those interested in witnessing the event in person by calling the South Boston Speedway ticket hotline at 1-877-440-1540.

To donate towards Eddy’s run to the DHSTS, or to learn more about Eddy, please visit his GoFundMe page at the link below.

BRAD EDDY RACING GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN

Photos by McCarthy Photographic