Cherry On The Move: Transition from Florida to S.C. fuels race career

Michael Cherry is a hands-on kind of racer. He is as passionate about working on his racecar as he is about driving. That’s why he couldn’t pass up the invitation from Addis Motorsports team owner, Blair Addis, to relocate to Greenville, S.C., from Valrico, Fla., for the 2009 race season.

Addis, as a team owner in the Drive for Diversity program, gave Cherry the opportunity to compete with his team in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division at Greenville Pickens Speedway. Cherry was also offered a full-time job working in the race shop, building and maintaining late mode stock cars.

“It was a great opportunity and a perfect fit,” said Cherry. “Not only to come up here to drive for Addis Motorsports, but to work day-to-day with my crew chief in the shop. I couldn’t pass it up and I’m so glad I didn’t.”

Cherry spent the 2009 season working in the race shop alongside his crew chief, Joey Bishop. Working in the shop allowed Cherry to sharpen his mechanical skills and learn the ins and outs of the racing business.

“For me, it’s important to know what’s going on with my racecar during the week,” Cherry said. “I can’t just show up at the track and drive; I want to be involved in the whole process and learn all I can.”

He did just that this season, learning both in the shop and on the track.

“He’s got a lot of respect from us all,” said Marty Ward, five-time track champion at Greenville Pickens. “He’s shown he can drive a racecar. He is a really good driver.”

After 21 races, Cherry is sixth in the standings at Greenville Pickens Speedway with seven top fives and 19 top 10s. He finished 79th overall in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national standings.

Cherry has had the support of local Nationwide Insurance agent Carlo White all season long, after a chance meeting between Addis and White last March led to a sponsorship agreement.
As the driver of the No. 34 Nationwide Insurance Toyota, Cherry has also brushed up on his sponsor relations this season.

“We’ve had a lot of great opportunities to reach out to the community this season,” he said. “We had Nationwide Night at the track where we signed autographs and met with Nationwide customers. It’s been awesome to have Nationwide on my side this season.”

Cherry does not know yet what the 2010 season will hold, but hopes to continue competing under the Drive for Diversity banner.

“I can’t thank the NASCAR, The 909 Group and everyone with the Drive for Diversity program enough for the opportunities I’ve had the past two seasons,” said Cherry.

Cherry will participate in the annual Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco next month. He hopes to be one of 10 drivers selected to compete with Revolution Racing as part of the Drive for Diversity program next season.

“I can’t thank the NASCAR, The 909 Group and everyone with the Drive for Diversity program enough for the opportunities I’ve had the past two seasons,” said Cherry. “Hopefully I can continue to be part of the program moving forward into next season.”