Martin-McClure Racing

Martin-McClure Racing is an American professional stock car racing organization owned and operated by Eric McClure  and former Nationwide driver Hal Martin.

Among the team's drivers were Chad Finchum and Austin Cindric.

McClure stepped away from the team in 2018 after his domestic violence arrest.

History
Just one week after achieving victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, s, Hal Martin and Eric McClure, announced today the addition of Austin Cindric to the team's driver roster. Cindric piloted Martin-McClure Racing's No. 39 entry for a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events beginning with this weekend's Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. Cindric will also compete in the NKNPSE event at Watkins Glen International Raceway later this year. At just 17 years of age, Cindric has already built a diverse, and impressive, racing resume including four Global Rally Cross victories, as well as one International Motorsports Association victory in the 2015 season alone. Cindric also achieved numerous other podium finishes across three different series during his 2015 race season.

In its two years of operation, Martin-McClure Racing has competed exclusively in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. During this time, MMR has achieved three wins in the 2016 race season and is currently seated 3rd in the series standings. The team has achieved all of this out of the former Morgan-McClure Motorsports complex in Abingdon, VA. It is in this building that a new generation of drivers, crewmembers, and owners build upon the rich history of the iconic yellow No. 4 car from the 1980s and 1990s.

It is the Martin-McClure Racing organization’s privilege to pay tribute to this recognizable paint scheme while participating in the inaugural Busch North Throwback 100 at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway on July 8, 2017. MMR will debut its own No.4 Overstock Mercantile/Boyer Drilling/Lighting Auto Sales/CitruSafe scheme complete in the livery of the easily recognizable No.4 entry of years past.

“I am honored to be able to participate in the NASCAR Throwback weekend at Thompson Speedway” said Hal Martin, co-owner of Martin-McClure Racing. “As a lifelong fan of the sport, I grew up watching the No.4 Kodak car on track. Now, as an owner, I get to revive and rewrite its legacy for the new generation of NASCAR fans.”

In the upcoming race at Thompson Speedway, MMR will welcome a new driver, Jared Irvan, as he continues his father’s legacy in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, formally the NASCAR Busch North Series, in the colors first made famous by his father.

“I am very exited for the opportunity to be driving for Martin-McClure Racing at Thompson Speedway,” Irvan said. “It is a very good opportunity and I can’t thank the team enough. This should be a very cool race with all the throwback schemes. I hope we will be able to have a good showing in my second ever NASCAR K&N Pro Series race.”

The vibrant paint scheme was a staple in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for nearly a decade, but also made an appearance in the NASCAR Busch North Series in 1993, when Ernie Irvan claimed the pole position at Watkins Glen International.

“This is a really special opportunity for me personally, and for our entire organization,” said co-owner Eric McClure. ” Looking at the colors of the car brings back a rush of memories, and the success of this car two decades ago provided many opportunities, and still brings a tremendous amount of pride.

“I’m excited to welcome Jared to our team. He’s young and fast. And we’ve laid a solid foundation for our team, with a standard of excellence. I’m hopeful that we can go to Thompson and perform in such a way that will make my dad, Larry, Teddy, Ed, Tim and Ernie Irvan proud.”

Other information
Chad Finchum, a 21-year-old from Knoxville, and Caleb Holman, a 32-year-old from Abingdon, will serve as the team’s drivers. For McClure, it was important to give opportunities to drivers from East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“Our region is rich in racing heritage,” McClure said from the Henderson Motorsports race shop. “The opportunity to protect and nuture that heritage and tradition through these partnerships is something we take seriously. It’s a privilege to have Caleb and Chad competing under our banner as both are quality individuals and unique talents.”

Finchum is a former champion at Kingsport Speedway and two weeks ago won the season opener for the Late Model Stock division at that track.

Now, he will make his fourth Bristol start in the K&N Series. His previous best was a seventh-place effort in 2012, but said the No. 39 Martin-McClure Racing Toyota with sponsorship from Reynolds Wrap is the best car he’s had to race with.

“I’m really looking forward to this season, particuarly getting to start our year at Bristol,” Finchum said. “It’s an honor to be a part of the MMR program, to have the opportunity to represent them, as well as Reynolds Wrap. We’ve achieved a great deal of success at the late model level and I’m hopeful we can take another step this year.”

Holman, who will drive a No. 75 Food Country USA sponsored Toyota, has proven himself on Bristol’s high banks. He won a Hooters Pro Cup race there in 2008 and ran as high as third in a NASCAR Truck Series race in 2014.

“I’m excited to get to Bristol. It’s a special place to me, as it is to everyone involved,” said Holman, the 2014 champion of the Pro Cup Series. “I was fortunate enough to win a Pro Cup race there, run well in the Truck Series and I appreciate everyone who made this opportunity possible.”

It is the Southeastern Louisiana-reared Martin and McClure, a Southwest Virginia native, who made this one possible.

McClure’s passion for giving local drivers, crew members and others an opportunity comes from his own history.

His family fielded the No. 4 cars based out of Abingdon which won 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races with drivers Rick Wilson, Ernie Irvin, Sterling Marlin and Bobby Hamilton. Other team drivers included Mark Martin and Ward Burton.

Irwin won the 1990 Bristol Night Race and the 1991 Daytona 500, while Marlin joined Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s.

Their shop was located next to Henderson Motorsports, which hosted Wednesday’s press conference and which Johnson City driver Brad Teague raced for when he won an Xfinity (then Busch) Series race at Martinsville in 1987.

To oversee the race car preparation, the Martin-McClure team turned to veteran crew chief Chris Carrier, a Bristol native, whose first major win came in a Late Model Sportsman race at Kingsport in 1979 with driver Larry Utsman.

Like all involved though, Carrier isn’t just looking at the past, but has an eye on the future.

“I feel like we are building something the residents and race fans of the Mountain Empire region can be proud of,” said Carrier, a former crew chief for Team Penske. “All of the participants are like family and the support for each other is something you don’t see often in this business. I feel like we have the chance to do something special here.”