Quick study: forget the learning curve—rookie Reed Sorenson finds himself near the top as a serious series contender

Sporting News, The, April 22, 2005 by Lee Spencer

He's barely 19, but when Reed Sorenson is on the racetrack, it looks as if he has been there forever. He carefully navigates traffic, passing seasoned Busch Series regulars and Nextel Cup drivers alike. That was particularly evident last month in Nashville. In his 11th career start, Sorenson won from the pole by 14.4 seconds over Kenny Wallace.

"That was such a huge boost for the driver and the whole team," Sorenson says. "I think I have more energy now than I've ever had in my career."

It's hard to believe that this rookie driver with a rookie team is second in points, 81 back of leader Carl Edwards. He even held his own in the season opener at Daytona and gained respect from Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. by keeping his nose clean on his way to finishing ninth--the only Busch full-timer to finish in the top 10 besides defending series champion Martin Truex.

Even the pressure of being on a new team, which forced him to earn his spot in each of the first five races, did not slow Sorenson's progress. Much of the credit goes to veteran crew chief Brian Pattie, who has built a solid team around Sorenson. Still, Sorenson knows there will be challenges to face.

"There are a lot of tracks that I haven't been to and the veterans have," Sorenson says. "I'm sure I'll learn a lot from them. I'm a pretty patient driver, and that's paid off in the NASCAR races. You can be aggressive, but you have to be careful. If you get into the guy in front of you, you're not just taking him out, you're taking yourself out, too."

That mature attitude has earned him praise from his peers.

"Reed's very talented and has good car control," Wallace says. "He's conducted himself in a very mild and professional manner. These young kids are a dime a dozen, and there's going to be a battle between Reed and David Stremme as to who moves up into the Ganassi ride first. But Reed will eventually go all the way."

INSIDE DISH

Defending Busch Series champion Martin Truex thinks his sluggish start is a direct result of Dales Earnhardt Inc's struggles in Nextel Cup. "If they were running well, there would be things we could take from them, and right now we don't have that luxury," Truex says. "It has taken us a long time to get going. It's not from a lack of trying." Truex says the team's lack of horsepower stems from the new Busch gear rule, which limits acceleration coming off the corners and down the stretch. > Don't be surprised to see David Stremme in a Nextel Cup car before season's end. Stremme's testing last season at Nashville led to significant chassis developments for Ganassi Racing's Cup program, and he also filled in for Bill Elliott and tested the No. 39 at Daytona. In Busch, Stremme has bounced around three teams over the past three years, working under four crew chiefs. He could show what he's capable of if given an opportunity in a Cup car later this year, especially with the assistance of current crew chief Randy Cox. > Clint Bowyer's career has gained momentum. Bowyer showed signs of brilliance last year while running a limited schedule, but it wasn't until Richard Childress put him in a full-time ride that Bowyer really began to blossom. Credit crew chief Gil Martin, who always has worked well with youngsters, with getting Bowyer into fine form. > After Rusty Wallace's son Stephen, a standout in Hooters Cup competition, turns 18 in August, expect to see him race the No. 64 Dodge in the Busch races at Memphis and Phoenix. Dodge has signed him and will support him for a partial Busch schedule in 2006.

TSN's POWER POLL

             1. Carl Edwards Successfully
                balancing the Busch and Nextel
                Cup series is proof of his driving
                and athletic ability.
  [up arrow] 2. Reed Sorenson
             3. Clint Bowyer
[down arrow] 4. Martin Truex
             5. Ashton Lewis
             6. Kenny Wallace
             7. Denry Hamlin
             8. Jon Wood
             9. David Stremme
            10. Shane Hmiel