Month: March 2010

Cherry Looks to Improve on Solid Season at GPS

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Michael Cherry will make his return to Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway this weekend, driving the No. 6 Distribution One Late Model for Revolution Racing. Cherry finished sixth in the Greenville Pickens Speedway Late Model division standings last season with seven top fives and 19 top 10s in 21 races. This season Cherry is focused on one thing – winning races. “I know what to expect this time around,” said Cherry. “I’m going into this weekend as a veteran and not as a track rookie. I have the support of Revolution Racing behind me this season, and I’m confident we have what it takes to go out there and win races.” Cherry, 20, is entering just his third season of asphalt racing. Prior to the 2007 season, Cherry raced dirt late models in his home state of Florida. When Cherry was invited to join the Drive for Diversity program in 2007, he transitioned from dirt to asphalt. After a season at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., which resulted in a Rookie of the Year title, and a second season on the asphalt at Greenville Pickens Speedway, Cherry is ready to expand his asphalt resume. With Revolution Racing’s academy-style development program, he’ll have that opportunity. “We have the people and the equipment to compete with the best,” said Cherry. “Max Siegel and John Story have put together a top-notch operation and I’m excited to be a part of what’s happening with Revolution Racing and the Drive for Diversity program.” In addition to Greenville Pickens Speedway, Cherry will get seat time at Caraway Speedway (Asheboro, N.C.), Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Tri-County Motor Speedway (Hudson, N.C.). He also works 20 hours a week in the race shop, trains three times a week with strength and conditioning coach and participates in competition meetings and testing. “It’s going to be a busy year, that’s for sure,” said Cherry. “I’m looking forward to making the most of this opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to showing everyone what we’re capable of when we go racing in Greenville this weekend.” Cherry, along with Revolution Racing teammates Rebecca Kasten and Megan Reitenour, will compete in the season opening Twin 50s at Greenville Pickens Speedway on Saturday night.

Weekend Preview – Greenville Pickens Speedway

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The Revolution Racing late model program will make its 2010 debut March 13 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway. Three Revolution Racing drivers – Michael Cherry, Rebecca Kasten and Megan Reitenour – will compete in the Twin 50 events. Event Information: LMS Twin 50s (100 laps of racing) Greenville Pickens Speedway Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m. Michael Cherry Team: No. 6 Distribution One Late Model Crew Chief: Lee McCall Cherry on his return to Greenville Pickens Speedway: “I’m excited to go back to Greenville and see all of the drivers I raced against last season. I’m going into this weekend as a veteran and not as a track rookie; with the support of Revolution Racing behind me this season, I’m confident we have what it takes to go out there and win races. Fast Facts:
  • Cherry ran a full season at Greenville in 2009; he earned seven top fives and 19 top 10s in 21 races.
  • This weekend marks the start of Cherry’s third season of racing on asphalt, and just his seventh year of racing stock cars.
  • Crew Chief Lee McCall is no stranger to Greenville Pickens Speedway – as crew chief for Marty Ward, McCall won 13 races at GPS last season.
  • This is Cherry’s third season competing under the Drive for Diversity banner.
Rebecca Kasten Team: No. 5 D4D Crew Member Development Program presented by Sprint Late Model Crew Chief: Lynn Martin Kasten on making her first start with Revolution Racing: “We’ve been working in the shop here in Mooresville since the first of the year, so I’m definitely ready to get to the track to go racing. I’ve always driven for my family owned team so it’s been an adjustment to come down here to North Carolina to race, but Max Siegel and John Story have put together a great operation and I’m excited to be part of it. I think we’ll do some really great things this season.” Fast Facts:
  • Kasten started her racing career just three years ago, but has made up for lost time by running more than 20 late model and super late model events a year.
  • Kasten is making her first start at Greenville Pickens Speedway this weekend. She’ll race at GPS at least four more times this season.
  • Riding the momentum: Kasten participated in New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway’s annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February, competing in Crate Late Models and Super Late Models throughout the nine day event. Kasten ended the week with a seventh-place finish in the Pete Orr Memorial 100, the premier Super Late Model race of the week.
  • This is Kasten’s first season of competition with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program.
Megan Reitenour Team: No. 1 Revolution Racing Late Model Crew Chief: Brandon Butler Reitenour on making her first start at Greenville Pickens Speedway: “I’m looking forward to getting out there and learning as much as I can. There are so many phenomenal race car drivers who compete at Greenville Pickens Speedway on a weekly basis; I just want to try to soak up as much as I can from them. Greenville Pickens Speedway is such a historic race track and I’m excited to get to be a part of that.” Fast Facts:
  • Reitenour has never raced at Greenville Pickens Speedway; she’ll be making her first and second starts at the historic track this weekend.
  • Last season Reitenour earned Rookie of the Year honors at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C. She earned one pole, seven top fives and 16 top 10s.
  • Reitenour has two stock car wins under her belt in the Super Cup Stock Car Series; she’s looking for her first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late model win.
  • This weekend marks the start of Reitenour’s second season of competition with the Drive for Diversity program.

NASCAR Honors Wendell Scott’s First NASCAR Sprint Cup Start

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In honor of the anniversary of African-American racing trailblazer Wendell Scott making his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, vehicles competing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway had a commemorative decal baring the image of Scott. Scott made his first start in NASCAR’s premier series on March 4, 1961 at Spartanburg, S.C. On Dec. 1, 1963 in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup event, a distinction he still holds. To further recognize the occasion this weekend at AMS, Sybil Scott, daughter of the late Scott, was in attendance as were NASCAR Drive for Diversity competitors Michael Cherry, Ryan Gifford, Jason Romero and Darrell Wallace Jr. Romero was last season’s winner of the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award, given annually to a female or minority driver in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series who personifies excellence on and off the race track. Above: Drive for Diversity competitors Michael Cherry, Ryan Gifford, Jason Romero and Darrell Wallace Jr. with Sybil Scott.

Pena ranked second in new ‘Hunter Index’

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Experience or the new kid in the spotlight? That was the question posed to the panel of auto racing writers and NASCAR representatives tasked with compiling the inaugural Hunter Index – a brand new feature on NASCARHomeTracks.com that will spotlight the top 10 drivers in the NASCAR Developmental Series in a monthly power poll. The first edition boiled down to a simple question: Which driver enters the 2010 season with the most momentum? In the end, it was three-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Philip Morris who got the nod over Sergio Pena, who was impressive in his NASCAR K&N Pro Series debut with a runner-up finish in January’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Defending NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Ryan Truex was a close third… Read more about the Index at NASCARHomeTracks.com

Driver Bell Makes Reality TV Debut (RJG.com)

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What started as a family hobby has become a full-time occupation for Mackena Bell. Bell, of Carson City, is receiving what can be considered a formal education in the sport. Bell is the only female of four drivers in a reality TV show called “Changing Lanes.” The show is scheduled to air on BET early this summer. Bell is in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and she will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, two steps below the Sprint Cup. The series starts March 27 and races on the East Coast. In 2009, Bell was the highest finishing female in Super Late Models at Toyota Speedway in Southern California, with a third-place finish. She moved to North Carolina in January to work with the Revolution Racing Team, under the guidance of CEO Max Siegel. “She’s got the right attitude. She’s extremely charismatic. She’s incredible with sponsors and fans,” Siegel said. “Her energy is infectious.” Read the rest of the story at RJG.com

Photos from the Fan Experience at the CIAA Basketball Tournament

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Revolution Racing Attends CIAA Basketball Tournament Revolution Racing drivers were in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday and Friday night to sign autographs and meet with fans at the annual CIAA Fan Experience. The Fan Experience, a free event held at the Charlotte Convention Center, brings together CIAA fans for fun and entertainment. Mackena Bell, Michael Cherry, Ryan Gifford, Katie Hagar, Rebecca Kasten, Sergio Pena and Darrell Wallace, Jr. signed autographs at the Revolution Racing display. The display featured three of the team’s race cars – a NASCAR K&N Pro Series car, a Late Model and  Legend car – along with a video presentation about the team. Revolution Racing also raffled tickets to an upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.