Hamm Conquers Cherokee To Capture Inaugural FUEL Event

Gaffney, SC - Brett Hamm vaulted to the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back as he captured the FUEL Racing Series season opener this past Saturday night at Cherokee Speedway. The Newberry, South Carolina racer led all 40 laps and held off a late charge from Ross Bailes to secure the $3000 payday in the inaugural touring event of the new CT525 series. In Klotz Synthetic Lubricants time trials, it was Billy Hicks who recorded quick time and the first ever pole award with a lap of 16.203 around the storied speedway. With no drivers locked in from Time Trials, the heat race action was intense and competitive. Ricky Weeks captured RE Suspension Heat Race #1 while Ross Bailes emerged victorious in KRC Power Steering Heat Race #2. After a redraw of the top 2 finishers from both heat races, the field was set with Hamm drawing the pole starting position. Hamm set a blistering pace early on as the battle ensued behind him between Weeks, Bailes, and Hicks. Weeks was very strong early in the event, However, a flat tire ended his bid for the win. Hicks and Bailes resumed the battle for 2nd and even closed in on Hamm in the closing laps of the event but would ultimately fall short in their attempt to overtake the eventual winner. "We had a good car all weekend long," said Hamm. "We've won both races we've ran with this engine so far this season. This FUEL Racing Series competition is tough but we'll take what we learned tonight up to Elkin in 2 weeks." Bailes, Hicks, Jason Pack, and Donald Bradsher would round out the top 5. Up next for the FUEL Racing Series will be a Saturday, April 26th trip to Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC. Be sure to make plans to come watch as the stars and cars of the FUEL Racing Series powered by City Chevrolet Performance. For more information about FUEL Racing Series, visit the website (fuelracingseries.com), find us on Facebook (FUEL Racing Series), and follow us on Twitter (FUEL525SERIES). Partners of the FUEL Racing Series include Chevrolet Performance, City Chevrolet Performance, Klotz Synthetics, RE Suspension, KRC Power Steering, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, B&B Motorsports, Flag To Flag, Kenny Lamb Racing Engines, Heintz Brothers Performance, Performance Tees, D&E Marine, WP Racing Shocks, Renegade Race Fuels, JRi Shocks, Beyea Headers, Eibach Springs, The Joie of Seating, To The Point, Gale Force Suspensions, Roush Yates Performance Products, AR Bodies, Velocita, Local Race Chat, and Thomas Clarke Performance. KLOTZ SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS TIME TRIALS: Billy Hicks 16.203, Ross Bailes 16.280, Chris Cantrell 16.312, Brett Hamm 16.327, Ricky Weeks 16.390, Donald Bradsher 16.411, Ryan Atkins 16.423, Matthew Turner 16.432, Kenny Van Derveer 16.435, Jason Pack 16.534, Carson Ferguson 16.542, David Smith 16.567, Johnny Pursley 16.619, Clinton Cook 16.668, Steve Cooke 16.746, Trent Ivey 16.824, Kip Cochran 17.636. R.E. SUSPENSION HEAT RACE #1: Ricky Weeks, Johnny Pursley, Billy Hicks, Chris Cantrell, Kenny Van Derveer, Steve Cooke, Carson Ferguson, Kip Cochran, Ryan Atkins. KRC POWER STEERING HEAT RACE #2: Ross Bailes, Brett Hamm, Donald Bradsher, Jason Pack, Matthew Turner, Clinton Cook, David Smith, Trent Ivey. FEATURE RESULTS: Brett Hamm, Ross Bailes, Billy Hicks, Jason Pack, Donald Bradsher, David Smith, Matthew Turner, Clinton Cook, Ryan Atkins, Carson Ferguson, Ricky Weeks, Trent Ivey, Kenny Van Derveer, Steve Cooke, Johnny Pursley, Kip Cochran, Chris Cantrell