Tag: Michael Cherry

Revolution Racing’s Michael Cherry headed into Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway’s season opening Twin 50 late model races with a year of competition at the historic speedway under his belt. Cherry used that experience to his advantage, scoring two top-10 finishes with a seventh- and fourth-place run, respectively, despite mechanical woes early in the first race. Also for Revolution Racing, Becca Kasten (eighth and eighth) and Megan Reitenour (13th and 11th) made their season debuts in the twin Late Model features at Greenville Pickens. “We ran good tonight, all things considered,” said Cherry. “We had the carburetor issue in the first race that really took us out of contention, so it was good to rebound in the second race and run up front with the leaders. I’m happy to get out of here with a solid top-five finish and the Distribution One late model in one piece.” Cherry, driving the No. 6 Distribution One Late Model, qualified third for the first 50-lap event but knew early on that his car wasn’t running as it should. By lap 10, he had slipped to the tail end of the field. A well timed caution allowed Cherry the opportunity to bring his car in for the necessary repairs. He restarted 14th on lap 12 and worked his way back to a seventh-place finish. Cherry started the second race where he finished the first, in the seventh spot. A long green-flag run spread out the field and Cherry knew a restart would be his only shot at picking off the leaders. A series of late race cautions bunched up the field, helping Cherry move from seventh to fourth. On the final restart, Cherry made the pass for third but couldn’t hold on to the position. He settled for a fourth-place finish. Kasten piloted the No. 5 D4D Crew Member Development Program presented by Sprint Late Model to a pair of eighth-place finishes, despite trouble in qualifying. “We had the car where we wanted it in final practice and I just messed up in qualifying,” said Kasten, who was competing at Greenville Pickens Speedway for the first time. “We had to start at the tail end of the field but I was able to pick up some spots and get some experience racing with these guys.” Reitenour had limited practice time at Greenville Pickens Speedway on Saturday due to an engine change for the No. 1 Revolution Racing Late Model. Reitenour qualified 12th and finished 13th and 11th in the Twin 50 events. “I was out there trying to get all I could out of it,” said Reitenour. “In the first race, I could catch [the field] in the corners but I had nothing for them on the straightaway. We picked up a little bit for the second race and I thought we had a shot at a top 10, but we came up just a little short tonight.” Cherry, Kasten and Reitenour will return to action April 2 at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C. Their Revolution Racing teammates – Jessica Brunelli, Katie Hagar and Jason Romero – will make their late model season debut at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on March 20.

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.