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.
Darrell Wallace Jr. discovered Saturday night that celebrating his first NASCAR victory differed greatly from how he envisioned it.
Don’t even bother asking him to digest the historical aspect of his victory in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150, where Wallace became the NASCAR K&N East Series’ first African-American winner and its youngest victor at 16 years, five months and 19 days. Wallace’s win topped Brett Moffitt (16 years, 9 months, 27 days), who won at South Boston (Va.) Speedway last season.
“It hasn’t hit me, but soon it will,” said Wallace, a member of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. “It was a pretty crazy night. It was mainly saving tires, that’s what they were telling me in my ear all night. That’s what I did and I was able to come up with the win.”
Wallace started seventh at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway in his series debut and led three times for 22 laps, gaining his final lead after passing Cole Whitt just after the last restart. Next were fellow rookie Andrew Smith, Jody Lavender, Whitt and Ryan Gifford, one of Wallace’s three D4D teammates at Revolution Racing. Read the rest on USAToday 
