Reed Sorenson

The Atlanta Motor Speedway helped 19-year-old Reed Sorenson take his first steps towards an illustrious racing career. A three-time champion on the track’s quarter-mile layout behind the wheel of a Legends machine, Sorenson is all too familiar with the facility. So what better place to lay the ground work for his next major career move than the track just minutes from his hometown in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Currently running full-time in the midst of the NASCAR Busch Series Championship, the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team opted to call on their rookie driver to take a shot at the Nextel Cup ranks. Knowing a full schedule is on tap in 2006, the team was looking to get a jump-start on his full-time effort by entering him in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 field.

“I think it’d be good anywhere, it just happened to be in Atlanta. I have hometown fans all around here. To have them come out, I think it’s pretty cool,” Sorenson said of his debut.

Piloting the No. 39 Discount Tire Dodge, Sorenson was teamed up with veteran crew chief Lee McCall for the big weekend. McCall recently broke in a working relationship with Sorenson during a test session in preparation for the racer’s Cup debut on the 1.54-mile track. After the test the two also tweaked their communication skills in the Memphis Busch race.

“The goal I have with Reed is the same goal I had with David Stremme in his first start in Chicago, to finish in the top 15. We finished 16th so we weren’t too far off,” McCall said.

“The pressure is on for qualifying day. It’s up to the driver to put down a conservative lap. Once that is over with you can go do your job.”

Two afternoon practice runs was to be capped off by Bud Pole qualifying under the lights on Friday.

With a task of keeping his machine smooth and steady for a solid qualifying run, Sorenson had to put down a stellar lap in order to make the field. With no points to fall back on speed was the determining factor. Sorenson ignored the pressure and put his No. 39 Dodge 22nd on the grid, easily making the 43-car field.

“The track was cooler and we made one small adjustment but it wasn’t a big deal. We had a decent qualifying run,” Sorenson said.

“We want to finish on the lead lap, finish all 500 laps. Obviously that’s our goal and I think we can do it,” he added of the team’s plans for the race.

The Cup garage was closed Saturday and Sorenson took advantage of the down time by catching up with friends and taking in a college football game.

With plenty of rest and 500 miles ahead of him, Sorenson strapped in on Sunday for his first of many Nextel Cup starts.

An early pitstop under the day's first caution flag only eight laps into the event shuffled Sorenson in the rundown. Within laps Sorenson and veteran spotter Mike Calinoff, who used his eyes for Matt Kenseth during his 2003 Championship-winning season, worked together and regained position just outside of the top 20.

Battling comfortably, the Discount Tire team’s second pitstop of the day fell on lap 52 under another caution flag. Sorenson dropped his hotrod to the attention of the No. 39 crew in 24th and left 22nd.

After sporadic runs through the opening laps of the race, an extended green flag run finally gave Sorenson the competition seat-time he was looking for.

“It wasn’t a big difference out there. There was a little difference in the cars and the way the spoilers are but it was basically the same,” Sorenson said of the challenges of being behind the wheel of a Cup machine.

The fourth caution flag of the day fell on lap 123 allowing Sorenson to lead his Discount Tire machine to the attention of his crew for a much needed stop. The restart fell on lap 127 and Sorenson took the green from the 20th position.

The restart bunched up the cars and heightened the competition. Eager to gain position it was every man for himself and it didn’t take long for three and four wide racing to ensue. Entering turn three on lap 134 Sorenson’s Dodge had slight contact with the Scott Wimmer machine, sending the Discount Tire ride high on track before suffering additional contact with Kasey Kahne.

“Up to that point it was good. We were on the lead lap, we were on the outside of Wimmer and he got my left front a little. I almost had it saved there and than Kahne got into me,” Reed said.

Despite dealing with a finish he didn’t intend to have during his debut, Reed is positive as he looks ahead. He has a busy week planned as he and the No. 41 Discount Tire Busch team will test the Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for the season finale on November 19th.

Following the test, Sorenson and crew will trek to the Texas Motor Speedway for a full weekend of racing. In the spring they put together a solid third place finish on the 1.5-mile track.

Reed will have a full plate as he takes on his first double duty weekend in Texas. Running both the Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series events, he’ll get a taste of what lies ahead for the 2006 season.

“It shouldn’t be too bad. But it’s definitely not going to hurt with the extra seat-time. You just have to be able to relay everything to your teams,” he says.

With only three races remaining in his rookie season in the Busch ranks, Sorenson is optimistic as the clock counts down.

“I think I’ll be pretty good. Our Busch car will be good and we’ll be testing at Homestead. I just want to win another race before the season’s over.”