2002 O’Reilly MLRA Rookie
Brandon McCormick Lebanon, Mo.
Official Press Release - November 7, 2002
O'Reilly MLRA
By: Kevin Fletcher
With 22 cars lined side by side, 11 rows deep, Brandon McCormick must have
felt 10 feet tall and bulletproof as he sat mid pack of the Late Model A
Feature at the West Plains Speedway. Then again he must have been wondering
just why he was there? It was his first night behind the wheel of a racecar.
An experience he had dreamed of for many years, but the true experience would
soon follow in the opening laps of the 25-lap race.
As he approached the green flag coming out of four with clinched fists on
the steering wheel, he caught the glimpse of the green, Throttle pushed hard
to the floor and within the first 300 feet he was shuffled to the back as
fast as they could shuffle him. It was only 3 laps later his first run of bad
luck would come, as a drive shaft had came loosened from the yoke, leaving
him helpless and tow truck bound. Looking back McCormick of Lebanon, Mo.
stills remembers his first race, while some might having a feeling of
disappointment Brandon shrugged it off, smiled and raised the bar a little
higher for the next time out.
This has only been 5 years ago that this night took place, it was all the
brain storm of his Step-Father Daryl Capps, After Capps’ racing retirement he
thought this would be a good way to stay involved within the sport. A family
supported car, Both McCormick and Capps had many miles together in Daryl's
earlier days sharing good times all across the Midwest at countless
racetracks. Being in Victory lane time and time again with Capps.
His first car was chassis number 20 of Joe Garretson's GRT Race Car Shop,
ironically as it may sound it was bought from MLRA Driver Daryl Mooneyham
driver of the number 20 car. It was a contingency reward for Mooneyham’s
previous season with the MLRA. Now it would stay within the series and be
powered by a steelhead, flat top small block to push the car thru the
corners. A good learning car for a team of drivers with no seat time at all.
It would be a community fun car for all the crew that had worked hard on it,
until Brandon started showing success behind the wheel. Even though his first
season was only 3 races long things was about to change his next year out.
With a dedicated crew consisting of Daryl Capps, Lester Capps, Jeff smith,
Jeff Morgan, Jess Hawkins, and Dale Whipple the team was about to make some
eyebrows raise it took a couple of years for the whole picture to be outlined
but with the drawing sketched in McCormick was ready to paint. In 2000 he was
the Late Model season Champion at the Dallas Co. Speedway in Urbana, Mo. It
was also the same year he attempted to go for the championship at the Airport
Speedway in Springfield, Mo. That title should have been within reach also if
not for a accident that left him with a broken arm forcing him to set out the
last couple of races missing valuable points. Still able to manage a 3rd
place finish in Airport Speedway season points, McCormick and crew had done a
great year of racing and was looking forward to the next season. With only 1
track concentrated on in 2001 the 42 car made good for the team once again,
Clenching the title run at the Wheatland Raceway in Wheatland, Mo. as he was
crowned a Track Champion in the Late Model Division.
Coming off a couple of good seasons, McCormick wanted to raise the bar ever
higher, he felt they had created the team that was capable of running most
anywhere and knew he would never know until they tried it. Entering himself
for the 2002 "Rookie of the Year’ honors with the O’Reilly MLRA, he felt
would be a challenge that himself and his team needed. It would take all the
team could muster at times to keep the pace but they knew that going into the
season they was prepared for most anything.
Witch Mike Pickens's of Mike’s Motor Machine in Springfield, Mo. assembling
the engines they knew they would have the power needed to keep them at the
front, Coupling that to a GRT Chassis would make all the difference in the
world for the Daryl Capps Auto Sports, Precision Construction, Cody Mobile
Homes, Bud’s Auto Glass, Results Advertising, and Lonnie's Auto Clean Monte
Carlo.
2002 started out as planned with minor bumps and bangs along the way but
nothing too serious and within the first few races his fellow racers knew he
was the one that all the talk was about. His appearance at the track went
virtually un-noticed until the cars took to the track. McCormick has one of
those personality's everyone likes and few get to know. Quiet by nature until
the Driving suit gets zipped up and the Helmet lid gets slammed shut, then
watch out for "Mc" it’s "Hammer Time".
Even though Brandon has yet to make his first win with the O’Reilly MLRA he
has seen his share of Top 5’s and Top 10’s and it is just a matter of time,
as it stands to date he carries a good record with him, 21 wins so far, but
that will be a number left far behind as he pulls the stripe off for the 2003
season. It was good having Brandon as a apprentice racer but it will be
better having him as a journeyman he will be one of those racers that has the
knowledge to take the sport to a even higher level in the future. And this
driver has just that, a future with goals and the ability for the
achievements.
Brandon McCormick 2002 O’Reilly MLRA "Rookie of the Year"
Thanks for checking this story out for more info contact OREILLY MLRA@cs.com
or www.mlraracing.com also phone inquiries can be made directly to the
O'Reilly MLRA Home Office at 816-650-5063 Alan "Cowboy" & Harriet Chancellor
Story Submitted by
High Gear Entertainment and Racing Promotions
Springfield, Mo.
417-833-9467 or 417-860-8346
Brandon McCormick Lebanon, Mo.
Official Press Release - November 7, 2002
O'Reilly MLRA
By: Kevin Fletcher
With 22 cars lined side by side, 11 rows deep, Brandon McCormick must have
felt 10 feet tall and bulletproof as he sat mid pack of the Late Model A
Feature at the West Plains Speedway. Then again he must have been wondering
just why he was there? It was his first night behind the wheel of a racecar.
An experience he had dreamed of for many years, but the true experience would
soon follow in the opening laps of the 25-lap race.
As he approached the green flag coming out of four with clinched fists on
the steering wheel, he caught the glimpse of the green, Throttle pushed hard
to the floor and within the first 300 feet he was shuffled to the back as
fast as they could shuffle him. It was only 3 laps later his first run of bad
luck would come, as a drive shaft had came loosened from the yoke, leaving
him helpless and tow truck bound. Looking back McCormick of Lebanon, Mo.
stills remembers his first race, while some might having a feeling of
disappointment Brandon shrugged it off, smiled and raised the bar a little
higher for the next time out.
This has only been 5 years ago that this night took place, it was all the
brain storm of his Step-Father Daryl Capps, After Capps’ racing retirement he
thought this would be a good way to stay involved within the sport. A family
supported car, Both McCormick and Capps had many miles together in Daryl's
earlier days sharing good times all across the Midwest at countless
racetracks. Being in Victory lane time and time again with Capps.
His first car was chassis number 20 of Joe Garretson's GRT Race Car Shop,
ironically as it may sound it was bought from MLRA Driver Daryl Mooneyham
driver of the number 20 car. It was a contingency reward for Mooneyham’s
previous season with the MLRA. Now it would stay within the series and be
powered by a steelhead, flat top small block to push the car thru the
corners. A good learning car for a team of drivers with no seat time at all.
It would be a community fun car for all the crew that had worked hard on it,
until Brandon started showing success behind the wheel. Even though his first
season was only 3 races long things was about to change his next year out.
With a dedicated crew consisting of Daryl Capps, Lester Capps, Jeff smith,
Jeff Morgan, Jess Hawkins, and Dale Whipple the team was about to make some
eyebrows raise it took a couple of years for the whole picture to be outlined
but with the drawing sketched in McCormick was ready to paint. In 2000 he was
the Late Model season Champion at the Dallas Co. Speedway in Urbana, Mo. It
was also the same year he attempted to go for the championship at the Airport
Speedway in Springfield, Mo. That title should have been within reach also if
not for a accident that left him with a broken arm forcing him to set out the
last couple of races missing valuable points. Still able to manage a 3rd
place finish in Airport Speedway season points, McCormick and crew had done a
great year of racing and was looking forward to the next season. With only 1
track concentrated on in 2001 the 42 car made good for the team once again,
Clenching the title run at the Wheatland Raceway in Wheatland, Mo. as he was
crowned a Track Champion in the Late Model Division.
Coming off a couple of good seasons, McCormick wanted to raise the bar ever
higher, he felt they had created the team that was capable of running most
anywhere and knew he would never know until they tried it. Entering himself
for the 2002 "Rookie of the Year’ honors with the O’Reilly MLRA, he felt
would be a challenge that himself and his team needed. It would take all the
team could muster at times to keep the pace but they knew that going into the
season they was prepared for most anything.
Witch Mike Pickens's of Mike’s Motor Machine in Springfield, Mo. assembling
the engines they knew they would have the power needed to keep them at the
front, Coupling that to a GRT Chassis would make all the difference in the
world for the Daryl Capps Auto Sports, Precision Construction, Cody Mobile
Homes, Bud’s Auto Glass, Results Advertising, and Lonnie's Auto Clean Monte
Carlo.
2002 started out as planned with minor bumps and bangs along the way but
nothing too serious and within the first few races his fellow racers knew he
was the one that all the talk was about. His appearance at the track went
virtually un-noticed until the cars took to the track. McCormick has one of
those personality's everyone likes and few get to know. Quiet by nature until
the Driving suit gets zipped up and the Helmet lid gets slammed shut, then
watch out for "Mc" it’s "Hammer Time".
Even though Brandon has yet to make his first win with the O’Reilly MLRA he
has seen his share of Top 5’s and Top 10’s and it is just a matter of time,
as it stands to date he carries a good record with him, 21 wins so far, but
that will be a number left far behind as he pulls the stripe off for the 2003
season. It was good having Brandon as a apprentice racer but it will be
better having him as a journeyman he will be one of those racers that has the
knowledge to take the sport to a even higher level in the future. And this
driver has just that, a future with goals and the ability for the
achievements.
Brandon McCormick 2002 O’Reilly MLRA "Rookie of the Year"
Thanks for checking this story out for more info contact OREILLY MLRA@cs.com
or www.mlraracing.com also phone inquiries can be made directly to the
O'Reilly MLRA Home Office at 816-650-5063 Alan "Cowboy" & Harriet Chancellor
Story Submitted by
High Gear Entertainment and Racing Promotions
Springfield, Mo.
417-833-9467 or 417-860-8346
