Eric McClure in the #35 for Daytona 500

[nascarman14]

Eric McClure will make a return to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, joining Front Row Motorsports for the season-opening Daytona 500 in the #35 Ford Fusion. The veteran driver will carry the support of Hefty/Reynolds Wrap as primary sponsor in what would be his first start in "The Great American Race." The Sprint Cup team announced the one-race McClure-Hefty/Reynolds Wrap partnership at the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour in Charlotte, N.C., as the team discussed its expanding partner program and on-track performance growth. McClure is an 11-year veteran of NASCAR's Nationwide Series. He earned a career-best eighth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway last February in the Nationwide Series' season opener. The 35-year-old Chilhowie, Va., native also has three career Sprint Cup starts. The Daytona 500 would be his first Cup start for Front Row Motorsports. "This is an exciting time for me and certainly our sponsoring brands as well," said McClure. "In our sport, and for my family, there is nothing greater than the Daytona 500 and this opportunity will enhance our program in a unique way. Front Row and I have a history together; they have always represented their partners and ours in a professional manner. They are very strong on the superspeedways and I enjoy this type of racing more than any other. Racing in the Daytona 500 has always been a dream of mine and I look forward to getting to Daytona, working with this team, and trying to achieve this goal."(Breaking Limits/FRM)

Another Nationwide driver is given the chance of a lifetime!

 

[B.McKeever]

...if you read the update, he says 2014 is his last year. Guess the incident at Talladega is scaring his daughter(s) and he feels family is more important..(Which is true.)

He may not be a top 5 driver but he has kept Hefty with him...through multiple teams...for many years. Imagine he'd do pretty good as a team owner..

 

[Relly]

I'll stir in some tweets that Bob Pockrass sent out that add to this story....

via @bobpockrass

Eric McClure said he is cleared to compete but still lingering effects such as arthritis from Talladega wreck. #nascar

Eric McClure said he will do a majority of NNS races for TriStar but Jeff Green will run some as well. Says 2014 likely last yr racing.

Eric McClure said recurring sickness made a full NNS season unlikely. But didn't want to go out with the way 2013 went. #nascar

Eric McClure says came close to retiring. Said his 7-yr old daughter still impacted by his scary Dega crash and injuries. #nascar

Initially I scoffed at the move but after seeing these tweets I'm some what happy for Eric, in what is likely his last year in NASCAR I'm happy to see him get one last shot at the 500. He won't win but at least in this go around with FRM he'll get quality plate equipment.

Pockrass also sent this one out about the status of the 35;

Front Row Motorsports plans to run the No. 35 with a variety of drivers in 2014. Hope enuf $$ to race it each week. #nascar

 

[AMLNet49]

Nice move by both Bob Jenkins and Hefty/Reynolds to let McClure attempt at least one 500 before he calls it quits. Feel good story right here. From a different perspective, he definitely has the equipment to get a quality finish, FRM has been money on plate tracks the last three years.

 

[4WideRacing]

It's great for him to be able to have this chance, hopefully it will end up well for him and the team!

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

Maybe the No.35 team can get Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, or maybe get more Nationwide drivers like Eric for the races.