Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Going full throttle toward stock car racing's pinnacle

A 17-year-old is picked for a NASCAR program to help diversify the sport.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS
Published October 20, 2006

On a crisp November night in 2003, Michael Cherry and 29 other racers sped around the clay oval at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, vying for the win. It was Cherry's first time racing and he finished seventh.

He was only 14.

Now 17, Cherry is competing for a spot in Drive for Diversity, a program that pairs women and minority drivers with top NASCAR team owners.

"There are not a lot of minorities or women in NASCAR," said Malcolm Calhoun, director of Access Marketing & Communications, a North Carolina firm that manages and runs Drive for Diversity. "This program gives those who have an interest and desire to race at the top level an opportunity to compete."

Cherry, of Valrico, and 19 other drivers were selected from hundreds of applicants to participate in the two-day event earlier this week in South Boston, Va. The event includes on-track driving exercises and interviews that test participants' on-camera skills.

"There's not one criterion we look at when selecting a candidate," said Calhoun. "We saw something in Michael's resume that made us feel as though Michael would benefit from being in the program and the program would benefit from having Mike participate in it."

Cherry began racing three years ago at East Bay Raceway.

He's the only African-American on the track, raceway manager Todd Hutto said.

In the pits of East Bay, Cherry met his future agent, W.F. "Casey" Ebsary Jr.

Ebsary, a Tampa attorney and race fan, had heard about the Drive for Diversity program, but didn't know anyone who could qualify. Then he met Cherry.

"He was sharp and knew how to speak well," Ebsary said. "And he kept his car in one piece, which people like."

People, especially the kids who hang out at East Bay, also like Cherry's philanthropic side.

In November, Cherry bought two bikes to raffle to the crowd of youngsters who watch him race each week.

Wearing bright green frog slippers on his parents' couch, Cherry proudly displayed a photo of him and two children. They're posed in front of Cherry's race car, each child grinning next to their new bikes.

"It just popped in my head," he said of the raffle.

Other generous ideas have popped into Cherry's head. When school started, he gave away 30 backpacks loaded with school supplies. Every Halloween, Cherry gives away 300 pounds of candy.

"A lot of the younger fans support him," Hutto said.

And not only in the hopes that they will get a free bike.

"They want to be more like him," Hutto said.

Cherry and his family left for Virginia last Friday. The qualifier took place Monday and Tuesday.

Cherry will find out by Nov. 1 if he is one of the eight drivers selected to compete in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.

Fast facts

Michael Cherry

Nickname: Mike-Mike

Web site: www.fastcherry.com

School: Homeschooled

Day Job: Iron Point Construction Co.

Pets: Two chihuahuas, Little Bit and Buffy

Favorite band: Nickelback

Favorite movie: Days of Thunder

Favorite food: Chicken nuggets

[Last modified October 19, 2006, 07:56:34]