Brent Sherman is back!
If you don’t know who that is, there’s a very real chance that you were too young to be watching NASCAR races the last time that he competed in a NASCAR National Series event back in 2009.
After a 14-year layoff, the Illinois native will race it out on the streets of Chicago in the No. 28 RSS Racing entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 121. Sherman is hoping to make the most of his shot behind the wheel.
“This opportunity just fell into place,” said Sherman. “When the street race was announced, I knew I wanted to explore the chance to get back in a race car. I can’t thank RSS Racing enough for the opportunity to compete in the No. 28. I know I’ll have some challenges with the temperature in Chicago during the summer months, but I’m up for the challenge and have been training to be prepared for it. I’m going to make the most out of this opportunity and compete with some of the best racers in the business. It’s going to be great to have my kids, who are now teenagers, see me compete in our hometown with other family and friends.”
Sherman, a veteran of the United States Air Force, is well-versed in road racing. The now 49-year-old racer competed in the Russel Racing School at Sonoma Raceway back in 1997. After he won a scholarship, Sherman pursued a career in racing, which saw him compete in all three NASCAR National Series divisions, and even started the Daytona 500 in 2006.
Sherman also dipped his toes into Indy Lights as he drove for Panther Racing in 2008.
The racer is excited to get back behind the wheel after taking time away to build his family and his business.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to race in front of so many family and friends in Chicago,” said Sherman in an RSS Racing team release. “When I started racing, I was 24, a little late to be embarking on a racing career. I moved quickly through the ranks, but sponsorship became harder to acquire. The last time I competed full time was in 2008, my kids were young, and I ultimately made the decision to step away to focus on raising my family and building my business.”
Sherman has one top-10 finish, a ninth-place effort at Talladega Superspeedway back in 2005, in 61-career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts. His last NASCAR National Series race came in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Chicagoland Speedway in 2009, a race where Sherman started seventh and finished 16th.
