Eddie Sharp: A Racer's Owner

Eddie Sharp knows what it takes to survive in the competitive world of auto racing. After a 30-year career in the industry, Sharp combined his learned lessons with a business-savvy approach to form Eddie Sharp Racing, a staple within the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Sharp’s hard work has produced a reputation that many within the racing circle would envy; one of developing talent, winning races and contending for championships.

Though he makes it looks easy these days as he leads his three-car stable, his rise within motorsports was at times daunting. Rather than taking on a four-wheeled speed demon for his introduction, Sharp took a different route, that by the way of water, racing hydroplane boats in his native Florida.

It wasn’t long however before Sharp ventured into the cockpit of a stock car and his career followed the familiar racing path into North Carolina. In 1993, Sharp made his NASCAR debut, running two races in what was then known as the Busch Series.

With Ken Schrader and Johnny Benson as mentors, Sharp then started his own team in the American Speed Association, a short track division that bred racers such as Benson, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace.

After his stint in ASA, Sharp decided to climb out from behind the wheel and took on the role of crew chief. In 1999 Sharp called the shots for Bill Baird in the ARCA RE/MAX Series en route to the championship.

Over the next few seasons, Sharp reinstated his car owner title, only this time in ARCA. Simultaneously, he continued to crew chief, including a stint in the Sprint Cup Series.

In 2006 Sharp envisioned his goals as a team owner and began the first steps in achieving them by building a 20,000 square foot race shop in Denver, N.C. And it wasn’t long before ESR grew a reputation for developing young talent. Over the last three years, Sharp has helped usher in the careers of Scott Lagasse, Chase Miller, T.J. Bell, Michael McDowell, and most recently, Justin Lofton.

McDowell and Sharp were oh-so-close in 2007, finishing runner-up in the championship standings before McDowell made the move to Sprint Cup Series competition.

Eddie Sharp Age 43 Hometown Clearwater, FL Spouse Jessica Children Kelsey & Katie Hobbies Family, Golf Racing 31 Years

In 2008 ESR fielded an entry for former Formula One standout Scott Speed. Throughout the season the team thrashed out successful runs one after another and garnered four race wins; Kansas, Kentucky, Berlin and Nashville.

In 2009 Sharp expanded his fleet to three full-time Toyota entries. Justin Lofton led the four-car charge as the elder statesman for Team ESR. Lofton drove the majority of the 2008 season with Sharp, nabbing his first race win in Michigan.

Joining him in the ESR assault on ARCA was 2008 Grand-Am Rookie of the Year Tim George Jr., and Camping World East graduate Craig Goess Jr

Lofton was dominant from start to finish, claiming five pole awards, six race wins, a series leading 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. He and Sharp wrapped up the organization’s first ARCA championship at the season finale at Rockingham by finishing a solid third.

Sharp’s team took home the driving championship, the owner’s championship, and also claimed the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge for the second consecutive season.

Sharp’s rare ability to spot talent, in tandem with his own past success as both a driver and a crew chief, is what gives Eddie Sharp Racing its successful edge.