For almost all of his racing career, Charlie Bradberry has raced for a family-owned team. Except for a two-race stint in the Busch Series at the end of the 2005 season, Bradberry has been the man behind both the wheel and behind the wrenches. Now, Bradberry will tread on new ground when he makes his USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series debut this coming weekend at Southern National Raceway Park (NC) with Knight’s Racing.
Bradberry got a first-hand look at the Knight’s Racing organization when he attended the Pro Cup Northern Division race with the team this past weekend at Motor Mile Speedway (VA)
“I can’t wait. I’m really getting anxious for the weekend to get here,” said Bradberry. “After spending the weekend with the team at the North race at Motor Mile, I see what the team is all about and the potential that the team has. They are already at a level where than can be winning races, which makes me feel very good.
“Everyone knows what the team can do. With (crew chief) Keith (Hinkein) there, it can only get better. They’ve got the program headed in the right direction. I’m looking to come in and I think we can win right off the bat.”
Bradberry has a history of winning. Already in ‘06, Bradberry has earned six poles and five wins in a number of different series, including PASS South, the Blizzard Series and the All American Super Late Model Series.
The former NASCAR All Pro (now the Southeast Series) Champion and former Snowball Derby winner has spent the last week at the Knight’s
Charlie will get out of his regular red #78 this weekend...
Racing shop getting acclimated to the people and the Pro Cup style cars. Bradberry and the team plan to test at the track before the weekend’s event.
“I’ve been up here all week with the team. Brad (Rogers) is a super nice guy. He and I just hit it off right off the bat. He is a good kid and has already told me a lot about the cars and given me some pointers. It’s a great atmosphere here in the shop. The guys have been great, especially around me. I’m the new guy that no one really knows, but they haven’t treated me that way. That makes it all the more exciting.
“This is such a great opportunity for me. the team has a lot of stuff going on. The crew chief, Keith Hinkein has a lot of good stuff going and the team turned in the right direction. I’ve known Keith, so that will make things that much better. This is a team that is capable of winning a bunch of races.”
Despite the fact that Bradberry hasn’t raced with the Pro Cup Series before, he won’t be completely immune to the tendencies of a “big car.” In addition to running in a couple of Busch Series events, Charlie spent part of a season running in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well, where his best career finish to date came on the short track of Mansfield Motorsports Park.
“A lot of people have been talking and calling me since I announced this deal,” added Bradberry. “There are a lot of people that have called and just said congrats on getting the opportunity. It will be neat to go back and race with a bunch of people that I’ve raced with throughout the years that are running the series now like Jeff Fultz and Ricky Turner and others. There are also a lot of officials that I’ve known for years that work with them, so it will be neat to see them as well.
“Making my debut at Kenly (Southern National) will also help because it’s a track I’ve been to before. It’s just a regular short track. You just have to stay out of trouble at those places and be there at the end. If we can do that, I’m confident we can get a top-five. I feel like this team has got the best equipment out there, so there is no excuse if we don’t’ run good.”
The Sears Auto Center 250 at Southern National Raceway Park on Saturday night, July 22nd, is set to start at 7pm.
