Mooresville, N.C. – Dange Hanniford grew up 10 minutes from Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, but come Friday, Richmond International Raceway will take on special meaning for the young driver, as well.
That’s because Hanniford will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut there in the Circuit City 250 presented by Funai. The 26-year-old will pilot the No. 56 Chevy Monte Carlo SS for Mac Hill Motorsports, the team he currently races for in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.
“It’s just a dream come true to actually be able to do it,” said Hanniford, who finished two points shy of winning the Hooters Pro Cup Miller Lite Rookie of the Year crown last year.
He tested at RIR in March, so the track isn’t completely foreign to him. But it’s also not familiar like the tracks the Pro Cup Series visits. At ¾-mile, it’s larger than all but one of them.
“It’s a lot different than anywhere we run,” Hanniford said.
The competition on Friday will be tough, too, noted Mac Hill team owner Jack McNelly. Though there are only 45 cars on the preliminary entry list competing for 43 spots, 21 of the drivers are Nextel Cup regulars.
“It’s going to be a very competitive field,” McNelly said.
The 56 car will carry primary sponsorship this week from Richmond-based portable self-storage company SMARTBOX.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to sponsor an up-and-coming driver, and at the same time, introduce SMARTBOX to NASCAR fans across the country and an ESPN2 national audience,” said Michael Lowe, president and CEO of SMARTBOX.
The Circuit City 250 presented by Funai begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
About SMARTBOX
SMARTBOX is a leader in the portable self-storage industry, offering individuals and businesses affordable and convenient storage and local and long-distance moving solutions. Based in Richmond, Va., SMARTBOX has franchises in Atlanta; Baltimore; Charlotte; Denver; Fredericksburg, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Minneapolis; New Orleans; Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va.; Raleigh, N.C.; San Antonio; and Williamsburg/Newport News, Va. For more information, visit smartboxusa.com.
And for more information on Dange Hanniford and Mac Hill Motorsports, please visit machillmotorsports.com.