Shaun Harrell Scores FUEL Victory At Cherokee Speedway

Shaun Harrell Scores FUEL Victory At Cherokee Speedway

(Gaffney, SC) Rebounding from the misfortune that sidelined him prematurely in the season opener last week at Carolina Speedway, Shaun Harrell pulled off a clean sweep in last night’s event at Cherokee Speedway. It was an impressive night for the 2018 championship runner-up, but his path to Victory Lane and the $2500 paycheck wasn't easy thanks to a late race charge from three drivers led by 2017 Champion Steve Banal.

In Renegade Racing Fuel-Ford's Fuel South East Master Distributor Time Trials, Harrell established a new FUEL Track Record at Cherokee with a blistering time of 15.515 seconds around the lightning fast Gaffney, SC oval. Harrell backed up his qualifying performance with a victory in PRO FABrication, Inc Heat Race #1 while defending series champion Robbie Emory captured the win in SRI Dirt & Drag Heat Race #2.

Heat race winners Harrell and Emory would lead the field to the Green Flag for the 35 lap Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Main Event. Continuing his dominance of the evening, Harrell took command early and wasted no time in putting distance between himself and his nearest pursuers. As he increased his lead in the early stages, the action behind Harrell intensified as several drivers within the Top 10 battled feverishly for position. Just past the halfway point, the storyline of the race slowly started to shift. Though Harrell remained in the lead, a trio of drivers began slowly reeling him in. Emory and Banal battle for several laps and by the time Banal was able to squeeze by the defending Series Champion, FUEL newcomer Taylor Puckett had thrown his name into the hat of contenders. As the laps wound down, each of the Top 4 drivers navigated their way through lap traffic as Banal closed in on Harrell. The rare but exciting caution-free event produced phenomenal racing as a well balanced blend of Steel Block and CT525 engines waged war to an enthusiastic crowd at "The Place Your Mama Warned You About". Though Banal pressured Harrell in the closing laps, his pursuit of back-to-back victories fell short as the Hope Mills, North Carolina racer prevailed to secure his first series win of the season.

On behalf of the FUEL Racing Series, we extend our appreciation to Cherokee Speedway and their fans for their support.

For more information about FUEL you can visit the website ( www.fuelracingseries.com ), find us on Facebook (FUEL Racing Series), and follow us on Twitter (@FuelLateModels)

Partners of the FUEL Racing Series include: Chevrolet Performance, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Hoosier Tire South Dirt Oval, Renegade Racing Fuel-Ford's Fuel South East Master Distributor, FK Rod Ends, Velocita, SRI Dirt & Drag, PRO FABrication Inc, Elk Outdoors LLC, Ntense Graphics, and Thomas Clarke Performance.

Cherokee Speedway 3/30/19
City Chevrolet Main Event Results
(Pending Lab Test Results)

1) Shaun Harrell #3
2) Steve Banal #8B
3) Robbie Emory #9E
4) Taylor Puckett #28P
5) Derek Rogers #23
6) Adam Yarbrough #57
7) Corey Gordon #27
8) Walker Arthur #87
9) Charlie Walker #48
10) Travis Stoner #99
11) Brian Carswell #17
12) Bryson Harper #20H
13) Travis Pennington #01
DNS - Austin Holcombe #8A