Eric McClure, born near Bristol Motor Speedway, has been a part of his family's racing business since the age of five. His family started Morgan-McClure Motorsports, and McClure vicariously learned the business. He knew that he wanted to drive race cars. Instead of jumping right into a racing career without getting a valuable education, his mother, a teather herself, encouraged him to be diverse. McClure took his mother's advice and earned a degree in Mass Communications at Emory & Henry College in 2000. He could finally go race!
As a recent graduate, McClure began his racing career in the family's race shop where he could work on race cars while discovering his place in the sport.
In Lonesome Pine Raceway's Pure Stock Division, McClure had an impressive start his rookie year, winning five races, four poles, and the 2000 Rookie of the Year honors. In 2001, McClure's success continued in the track's Late Model division, where he won his first race after only five starts.
In 2002 and 2003, McClure continued racing at Lonesome Pine Raceway. He won three additional races in the Late Model division, and had his first appearance in the prestigious UARA-STARS late model touring series. McClure adapted well and embraced the quality of perserverance in his work and in his life. His talent was quickly becoming recognized by many racing enthusiasts. He took the advice from his father and uncles, and it paid off. To McClure, it wasn't about just winning a race. It was about "learning how to race." This attitude helped him advance to a higher series, and there was no doubt that the McClure had what it takes to be successful in this business.
Also in August 2002, McClure made his debut in the former NASCAR Goodys Dash Series at Bristol Motor Speedway. He qualified 13th and advanced to fourth position at one point, but his day ended when he got caught up in an accident.
In 2003, McClure debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX series piloting his Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet to an eighth-place finish after running as high as second at Michigan International Speedway. With that, McClure made the decision to enter the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the fall event at Rockingham, where he qualified in 22nd position. He raced his I CAN LEARN Chevrolet and finished 26th.
In addition to his Nationwide driving in 2003, McClure also spent time in his family's NASCAR Cup cars, participating in R&D testing, making his Cup debut at the famed Talladega Superspeedway in 2004. Driving the #04 I CAN LEARN/77sports.com Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, McClure qualified in the 35th position, led a lap, and finished on the lead lap in the 26th position. While preparing for his next opportunity in 2004, McClure competed in ten NASCAR Late Model Stock events, where he won 50 percent of those races.
During the 2005 season, McClure competed in two Cup events (Las Vegas & Lowes Motor Speedways) and eight Nationwide Series events. Additionally, McClure participated in Cup & Busch testing at various speedways throughout the 2005 season.
2006 brought McClure a sponsorship from Hefty Brand and The Bank of Marion. He participated in a pair of NASCAR Nationwide Series events, and the fall Cup event in Talladega.
In 2007, at 28-years-old, with a solid sponsorship with the Hefty Brand, McClure competed in his first full-time Nationwide season, racing 26 of the 35 events for owener, Keith Duesenberg. Additionally, McClure attempted two Cup events for Morgan-McClure Motorsports - the season-opening 49th running of the Daytona 500 and the Talladega race in October.
In 2008, McClure will drive the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet for Bob Jenkins.
McClure enjoys spending time with his family - wife, Miranda; daughter, Mabreigh; and pet-poodle, Annabelle. The McClure's are University of Virginia Cavaliers football fans.
