Reed Sorenson
2010 Rides: No. 32 Braun Racing Toyota, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota
2010 Primary Sponsors: Dollar General (No. 32), Red Bull (No. 83)
2010 Crew Chiefs: Trent Owens (No. 32), Jimmy Elledge (No. 83)
2010 Owners: Todd Braun (No. 32), Dietrich Mateschitz (No. 83)
2010 Stats: 16 starts, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 2 DNQs, 5 DNFs, 39th in points
High Point: When Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers was diagnosed with blood clots this May, the door was opened for Sorenson to earn another, well-funded Cup Series opportunity after seemingly getting the pink slip for good last offseason. While he failed to finish in a race in the No. 32 Braun Racing Toyota, he fared much better in the No. 83, finishing as high as eighth at Daytona in July.
That run served as his best at the Cup level since Loudon in June 2008, doubling as the lone top-10 finish for that team during a merry-go-round of substitutions without Vickers until Kasey Kahne ran sixth in the Homestead season finale. Over in the Nationwide Series, Sorenson finished in the top 10 in 21 of 28 races and wound up 12th in points, also earning extra races as a result of Vickers’s unfortunate medical problems.
Low Point: Starting the year at Braun Racing, Sorenson failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 on a limited schedule then DNF’d in his next three races driving the No. 32 – followed by another DNQ. Not exactly the way to start a new Sprint Cup operation out on the right foot.
Summary: The sickness for Vickers and another successful season in the Nationwide Series kept Sorenson on the Sprint Cup radar for another year, a great accomplishment for any young driver without a full-time ride in the series. While he didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his 13 starts for Red Bull Racing, he did finish 11 of those races and accumulate five top 20s for an organization in total disarray. Sorenson is still a tremendous talent and young enough (24) to make it in Sprint Cup; all it will take is the right opportunity.
Over on the Nationwide side, stepping back to run what eventually became a full-time schedule with Braun Racing seemed to give the young driver a burst of confidence. Near-misses at victory lane at Nashville and Gateway were reminders of just how good he can be with the right equipment.
2011 Outlook: Sorenson will get a full year in the Nationwide Series with newly-named Turner Motorsports (owner Todd Braun sold the team to Steve Turner in September) as he and new teammate Justin Allgaier will compete for the series title. Expect a solid top 10 in points, several top fives and an opportunity to win several races. 2011 will be a crucial year for Sorenson as he continues his attempt to work his way back into the Cup Series full time.
2006 Frontstretch Grade: C
2007 Grade: C
2008 Grade: D
2009 Grade: D+
2010 Grade: C-
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