Brent Sherman
Encyclopedia
Brent Sherman a resident of Wauconda, Illinois
, is a former driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series who later competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.
was not like that of most drivers. After high school, he completed a six-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Surveillance Technician on the E-3 AWACS
. It was during his last year in the Air Force that racing caught Sherman’s attention. After a trip to the Jim Russell Racing School in Sonoma, California
, Sherman was asked to compete for a racing scholarship in the Russell Champ Series. He won the scholarship and his racing career began.
, Grand American Road Racing Association
and the ARCA RE/MAX Series
.
In 2003, driving a Ford sponsored by Serta Mattresses
, he collected six top-5 and 11 top-10 finishes in ARCA competition and finished fourth in the final point standings. The following year he posted nine top-
5 and 14 top-10 finishes, which placed him second in the series’ point standings. He also received the prestigious Bill France Triple Crown honor and the HG Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award.
races in 2004
in the No. 58 Serta
Dodge for Akins Motorsports
and planned to run a full schedule with the team in 2005
. Glynn Motorsports
bought out his team and after 11 races and one top-10 finish between the two teams, Sherman and his sponsors parted ways with the team. In July 2005, Sherman signed on with ppc Racing
, replacing Michel Jourdain, Jr.
, and brought the Serta sponsorship with him (along with Hickory Farms
and Consort hair spray).
In 2006
, Sherman moved up to the NEXTEL Cup Series. He was signed to drive the #49 for BAM Racing
, with Serta once again his sponsor. His best finish was an 21st place finish in the Daytona 500. After poor performance, BAM Racing asked Sherman to step aside while the team tested other drivers. He resigned from the team (taking the sponsorship with him) and raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
for the remainder of the 2006 season. He drove the #36 Big Lots
Chevy in the 2007 Busch Series before departing the team in September. He would spend the remainder of the season driving a limited schedule for Braun Racing
. In 2009
, he drove a few Camping World Truck Series races for Stringer Motorsports in the #90 Great Clips
Toyota.
to move to the Firestone Indy Lights Series for the 2008 season. Sherman finished 11th in points with a best finish of 3rd which came in the first race of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway
. His best road course finish was 10th in a rain drenched attrition filled race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
.
Wauconda, Illinois
Wauconda is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,448 at the 2000 census, estimated to be 12,614 in 2006, and is projected to reach 13,811 by 2011. It is the site of the Wauconda Bog Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark...
, is a former driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series who later competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.
Biography
Sherman’s route to the NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
was not like that of most drivers. After high school, he completed a six-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Surveillance Technician on the E-3 AWACS
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
. It was during his last year in the Air Force that racing caught Sherman’s attention. After a trip to the Jim Russell Racing School in Sonoma, California
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
, Sherman was asked to compete for a racing scholarship in the Russell Champ Series. He won the scholarship and his racing career began.
Early career
During the next few years Sherman competed in several different racing series including the Barber Dodge Pro SeriesBarber Dodge Pro Series
The Barber Pro Series was an entry-level open-wheel auto racing series from 1986 to 2003. The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals....
, Grand American Road Racing Association
Grand American Road Racing Association
GRAND-AM Road Racing or GRAND-AM is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America...
and the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
.
In 2003, driving a Ford sponsored by Serta Mattresses
Serta (company)
Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name, and now eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative own the company...
, he collected six top-5 and 11 top-10 finishes in ARCA competition and finished fourth in the final point standings. The following year he posted nine top-
5 and 14 top-10 finishes, which placed him second in the series’ point standings. He also received the prestigious Bill France Triple Crown honor and the HG Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award.
NASCAR
Sherman competed in a handful of NASCAR Busch SeriesBusch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
races in 2004
2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Season began on February 14 and ended on November 20. Martin Truex, Jr. of Chance 2 Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2004 Team chart:...
in the No. 58 Serta
Serta (company)
Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name, and now eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative own the company...
Dodge for Akins Motorsports
Akins Motorsports
Akins Motorsports was a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team was formed in 1993 by at the time owned by Brad Akins and Bob Sutton. At the time the team was sold to Braun Racing it was owned by Doug Stringer....
and planned to run a full schedule with the team in 2005
2005 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2005 season of the NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr...
. Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports is a former NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series team. The team was owned by businessman Scott Glynn before it filed for bankruptcy in January 2006....
bought out his team and after 11 races and one top-10 finish between the two teams, Sherman and his sponsors parted ways with the team. In July 2005, Sherman signed on with ppc Racing
Ppc Racing
ppc Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was owned by Greg Pollex. ppc Racing came about from a merger of Pollex's Busch Series team with a car owned by Steve DeSouza and Ted Campbell in 1999. The team shut down in 2007 due to a lack of funding...
, replacing Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Michel Jourdain Jr. is an IndyCar driver. Jourdain Jr. started racing cars in the Mexican Formula Junior series at the age of 12. He then moved to the Mexican Formula K and Formula 2 series.-Champ Car:...
, and brought the Serta sponsorship with him (along with Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms is an American specialty foods company based in Maumee, Ohio. The company was established in 1951 when founder Richard Ransom began selling hand cut cheese at local fairs. By 1959, the company added summer sausage and opened their first retail store outside Toledo, Ohio...
and Consort hair spray).
2006 in NASCAR
The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Bud Shootout and ended on Sunday, November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17 at New Hampshire...
, Sherman moved up to the NEXTEL Cup Series. He was signed to drive the #49 for BAM Racing
BAM Racing
BAM Racing is a NASCAR racing team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau. The team began in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2000, moving to NASCAR in 2001 to 2008 before sitting out 2009 due to the economy...
, with Serta once again his sponsor. His best finish was an 21st place finish in the Daytona 500. After poor performance, BAM Racing asked Sherman to step aside while the team tested other drivers. He resigned from the team (taking the sponsorship with him) and raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
for the remainder of the 2006 season. He drove the #36 Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
Chevy in the 2007 Busch Series before departing the team in September. He would spend the remainder of the season driving a limited schedule for Braun Racing
Braun Racing
Braun Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had...
. In 2009
2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
The 15th season of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series began on February 13, 2009 at Daytona International Speedway with the Daytona 250. The season concluded on November 20 of that year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 200. The season was the first under the Camping World...
, he drove a few Camping World Truck Series races for Stringer Motorsports in the #90 Great Clips
Great Clips
Great Clips is a hair salon franchise in the United States and Canada with over 5,000 locations across the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota...
Toyota.
Indy Lights
On February 19, 2008 it was announced that he had signed with Panther RacingPanther Racing
Panther Racing is an American open wheel auto racing team. It is one of the oldest continually operating teams in Indy Racing League LLC's IZOD IndyCar Series....
to move to the Firestone Indy Lights Series for the 2008 season. Sherman finished 11th in points with a best finish of 3rd which came in the first race of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. His best road course finish was 10th in a rain drenched attrition filled race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
.