The 16-year-old McReynolds is the son of Larry McReynolds, a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief and current racing analyst for FOX. The younger McReynolds will make his debut on the .533-mile oval in the Saturday Spectacular, an evening which consists of five races, including the Thompson Metal 150.
McReynolds spent a day testing at BMS recently and is hoping for the absolute best when he makes his fourth start of the season in a Late Model ride.
"I've got my 17th birthday coming up next week, so getting a win at Bristol would be the best birthday present I could ever ask for," he said. "It's such an amazing track. I've been going there forever watching the Cup races with my dad when he was working with (Dale) Earnhardt and (Mike) Skinner... You know, I don't know the last time I missed a Cup race there.
"There's nothing like a race at Bristol, whether you're watching it or racing. It's so cool getting to race on that track. It's totally different than any other place. It's so amazing to be carrying all that speed on that banking. There's nothing else like it."
McReynolds said he was able to make a number of 15-lap runs during the test and he and his crew members were able to learn quite a bit. Of course, he also got a few tips about the legendary concrete oval from his father.
"He wasn't able to get there for the morning session but he drove down from Richmond and was there in the afternoon," said the rising high school senior. "He told me over the phone to take it easy at first and get used to the track because it could bite you in a hurry. He just said to take it easy, take my time and work up to speed.
"Once I was on the track and made a few runs I felt like I had run on it before. It was pretty neat, I have to say."
McReynolds has already been driving for half his life, having started his career as an eight-year-old in the Bandolero cars. The Thompson Metal 150 on Saturday will be his fourth start of the season in Late Model rides. His best finish to date has been a 10th-place showing and he's currently leading the Rookie of the Year standings.
While he's committed to making a career of racing, McReynolds says his parents are determined to see him attend college. And he's perfectly OK with that.
"They want me to go to college for at least a couple of years," he said. "You know, in case the racing gig doesn't work out. But I think it will work out. If something happens and I don't make it as a driver, I'll do something in racing. I'll clean the shop, I'll be a mechanic, I'll work in marketing. I don't know what it'll be, but I know I'll end up doing something with racing."
Right now, however, he's single-minded about making it as a race car driver. And foremost in his mind is putting on a good show at BMS.
"From the speeds we ran in testing I think we should do pretty well," he said. "I've got such a good bunch of guys coming with me, Shawn Treadeway (crew chief), Adam Fournier (tire specialist) and Chris Howell (mechanic), they all make this a really strong car so I've just got to get the job done behind the wheel.
"We'll be running with the big dogs and I honestly think we could qualify in the top five. I believe we can have a top-five, top-10 finish. I don't expect anything less than top 10, to be honest with you. And the dream would be to win, you know? That would be the coolest thing ever."
Corey LaJoie, the 16-year-old son of two-time Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series Randy LaJoie, also will be making his debut at BMS on Saturday in the Thompson Metal 150.
Action begins at 7:05 p.m. Saturday with the first event of the evening, the Pro Challenge, a 20-lap feature race. Next up is the NHRA Circle Track Challenge, a 25-lap event, in which NHRA stars will compete. NHRA drivers will compete in street stock cars, driving the first 12-lap segment before turning the car over to their street stock partner, the owner of the car, who will then finish the race. An NHRA winner will be crowned after the first segment and the starting positions for street stock drivers for the final segment will be determined by the finishing order of their NHRA "teammate." A second segment winner and an overall winner also will be crowned.
NHRA drivers participating in the event are Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin, Kurt Johnson, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Morgan Lucas, J.R. Todd, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Allen Johnson, Doug Kalitta, Justin Humphreys, Cory McClenathan, Antron Brown and Doug Herbert.
Following the NHRA Circle Track Challenge will be the Charger Division 25-lap feature with an appliance race up next. That event will feature stock cars racing with major appliances strapped to their cars. To cap the evening, the War Wizard, a monster truck, will be on hand to crush school buses before a spectacular fireworks show concludes the night's activities.
General admission tickets are $15 with children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult. Anyone attending the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Saturday can show their ticket stub at the BMS gate and receive $5 off the ticket price.
Pit passes may be purchased for $35. No one under the age of 15 will be admitted to the pits. Anyone 18 and under must have a parent sign a waiver for admittance to the pit area.
