Drive for Diversity’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, Rebecca 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.

Cherry, Kasten and Reitenour will return to action April 2 at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C.

D4D News & Notes:
• First year Drive for Diversity driver Rebecca Kasten, driving the No. 5 D4D Crew Member Development Program presented by Sprint Late Model, scored two eighth-place finishes after qualifying 16th at Greenville Pickens.
• Megan Reitenour, a second year D4D driver, 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.
• D4D drivers Jessica Brunelli, Katie Hagar and Jason Romero will make their late model season debut at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on March 20.