Patience Paying Off for Talented Sorenson

Reed Sorenson was once heralded as the Second Coming of Jeff Gordon. Young, talented and mildly marketable, Sorenson was said to have had it all. Just as fast as his star rose in 2005 it had dimmed by 2008. Sorenson was rushed through the ladder-system and was never given equipment that truly met his ability. As such, Sorenson is now the NFL equivalent of a bust.
But fortune may have struck for Sorenson when Brian Vickers’ clot forced him out of his car for the remainder of 2010. It’s not exactly that fate smiled on Vickers but for Sorenson, this is an opportunity two seasons in the making.
Find out why after the jump:

Long before Joey Logano was ‘Sliced Bread’ the future of stock car racing was meant to be Reed Sorenson. A quarter-midget and ASA champion, Sorenson quickly made headlines by signing with Chip Ganassi in 2003. Needing a Cup savior, Ganassi quickly rushed Sorenson through the ranks and had the highly-touted prodigy in his Cup car by 2006 and at the age of 20.
Unlike Logano, who has championship equipment behind him, Sorenson struggled to a 25.1 average finish in three seasons with Ganassi before moving onto the equally limited Evernham Motorsports. When that operation folded into Richard Petty Motorsports, Sorenson again found himself without a job and begin his current role as freelancer for several organizations.
That brings us to present day where Sorenson has been tabbed to replace Casey Mears as driver of the Team Red Bull 83 for what could be the remainder of the schedule. This makes excellent timing for TRB as New Hampshire is one of Sorenson’s best tracks. But for Sorenson himself, timing is everything.
It would have been easy for Sorenson to pack it up and go home, joining Regan Smith, Travis Kvapil, J.J. Yaley and David Gilliland as the decade’s biggest busts. But Sorenson understands. At age 24 and with a flawless garage reputation, Reed has yet to burn all hopes of becoming the star so many felt he was destined to be.
With his strongest tracks due up and with a team that made the Chase last season, Sorenson just received a golden oppurtunity to restart his career. After the Casey Mears/Scott Speed incident, all TRB expects is someone who can keep their nose clean. But who they got is a quality driver capable of submitting several top tens if driver and crew chief Kevin Hamlin can gel quickly enough.
Sorenson is in the prime of his career and Team Red Bull has made no secret of their ambitions to expand. 2009 was TRB’s coming out party and if Vickers can rebound from injury and if Speed can continue to improve, a rumored Chevrolet-branded Team Red Bull could have an open seat. If Sorenson should turn heads in 2010, it could bode well for 2011 and beyond.
The pressure and risk is minimal but the rewards could be vast. Reed Sorenson was meant for greatness and the talent is still there, as is the patience. Sorenson has waited for this moment for two years. It’s up to him now with what happens next.