Stephan McCurley to make NASCAR Nationwide debut at Dover

[NickHolt]

Texas Late Model Standout Driver McCurley To Make NASCAR Nationwide Series Debut at Dover

 

Humble, Texas (September 20, 2010) - Twenty year-old Stephan McCurley will attempt to qualify and race in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Sept. 26th at Dover International Speedway for the Dover 200 in Dover, Delaware. McCurley will be fielding his own #51 Chevrolet, with his father Mike McCurley as crew chief.

 

The Monster Mile with it's famous high banks will be the place that McCurley must prove himself to the powers that be at NASCAR in an effort to be approved to race tracks bigger than one mile in size. Stephan McCurley is no stranger to high banked race tracks, and ran very well last season in the ARCA Re/Max series for both events at Salem Speedway in Indiana.

 

"I love high banked race tracks," Says McCurley. "I am really looking forward to Dover. I know there will be some learning curves, but I usually can pick it up pretty quick."

 

The McCurleys have been building and preparing the cars all all summer at their shop in Humble, TX (just outside of Houston). Mike does most of the building and maintenance on the cars, and Stephan handles all the set-ups. This two man team has been down this road before coming into a completely new racing situation, and being up against bigger well-funded teams. This does not intimidate them.

 

In 2008 the McCurley's ran their own late models the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, which was Stephan's first year in a late model touring series. Stephan finished 2nd in the overall final points championship and won the ASA Blue Ridge regional championship in points, and also finished 2nd in the Carolina Clash regional championship points.

 

Again, last year, the McCurley's ran a limited schedule in the ARCA Re/Max Series, with Stephan as the driver and Mike as crew chief. They pulled off top tens in the first half of the season, with Stephan running steadily in the top 15 in points and gaining until the team they were racing for (a fellow Texan) parked the car for lack of sponsorship.

 

"We are not afraid to take on new situations,” Says Mike. “Stephan is extremely focused and he knows exactly what he wants in the cars. I just do what he needs me to do and we have always worked well that way. We feel confident in what we have, and he is confident as a driver. We show up and do our best - that's all you can ask for."

 

Stephan has been preparing himself for NASCAR along with his cars, working out and training at the gym as well as racing locally at Houston Motorsports Park.

 

"I knew we would have to wait until the fall to run the Nationwide car," he says. "So I tried to make the best of my time when I was not at the shop, working out and racing the mod and late model at Houston. Mentally I approach every race the same. I go there to drive to the best of my ability and get the most out of my race car. It's as simple as that. This is a test, yes - in a way it is. But to me, I get in the race car and I get in my zone. No stress, no pressure. Pressure and stress to me is when I can't go racing and I am trying to find a way to go!"

 

The team is working hard on sponsorship and would like to race again this season closer to home at Texas Motor Speedway, then work towards a limited or full schedule in 2011.

 

"We are doing this all ourselves with the help of some great friends and longtime supporters. I can't thank them enough for helping me make it this far," says Stephan. "This is my dream and my family has sacrificed alot to get me to this point in my career - I want to make them proud."

 

The McCurley Racing Chevrolet will be equipped with engines by Steve Allen. Sponsors include; Pepper’s Performance Eyeware, Sabelt, American Screen Graphics, Effen Racing, Drive-In Webdesign and Marketing, SponsorEdge.com, Greson Technical Sales, UVAC Environmental, and Royal Purple Synthetic Lubricants.

 

For more information please visit: www.stephanmccurley.com

[ShortTrackFan]

Go get em Stephan, my hats off to you guys. Best of luck!

[NickHolt]

A few pics of the McCurley NASCAR Nationwide ride.

 

 

 

[hooliganz]

Nick why do they list his car number as 151?

[NickHolt]

Nick why do they list his car number as 151?

 

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe there is a #51 in the series already, but I don't see another #51 on the entry list.

 

Nick