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RACING
NEWS
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| "Hurricane" Harrison Weathers Thru A Storm In Win | 
by Skip Wall
(Coeburn VA)-If you try hard enough, then the rewards will follow sooner or later. That has been the goals, so to speak, for West Virginia driver Jody “Hurricane” Harrison this past weekends winner at Lonesome Pine International Raceway.
Harrison outlasted rivals Ryan Miller and female driver and crowd favorite, Megan Reitenour in winning his first Super Cup Stock Car Series race, much less any other race for that matter.
Harrison won the A&G Coal Company 100 presented by Rush Enterprises over a field of 12 cars this past Saturday in Coeburn VA.
“I knew this day would come” says a gleaming Harrison who drives cars prepared by father Joe.
“I have been around for a while and watched my dad race and always wanted to do this” he says.
But what he did do was race in a car that had been put together by several drivers donating various parts to make the car complete.
“That just goes to show you what you can do if you set your mind to it” explained his father Joe Harrison Jr..
The day was a picnic for the race sponsor, A&G Coal Company. Drivers and crewmen treated employees of the company with southern hospitality during the afternoon. There were some 1200 employees and family at the picnic.
But by evening things got very serious except for Harrison, who slipped and qualified only 9th on the grid.
Indiana driver Jimmie Crabtree, won the pole but and inverted start allowed newcomer Mike Kurkowski start on the front row. That only lasted one lap when returning driver Wally Sweizer, seized the lead and led for 11 laps.
In the meantime, rivals, Ryan Miller and Megan Reitenour had yet another battle going on between themselves. While they were having at it, Crabtree sneaked out into the lead.
That didn’t last long as Reitenour found herself battling Crabtree. Reitenour collided with Crabtree bringing out one of the nights several cautions.
With less than 30 laps remaining, Crabtree retaliated against Reitenour and was slapped by a rough driving penalty.
During all the huha, “Hurricane” Harrison found himself dodging another bullet
Miller and Sweizer got into a tangle with only 14 laps left. Harrison found himself in victory lane for the first time in only 5 career starts in Super Cup.
Qualifying gave Myers golden opportunity to gain points.
"This is awesome! I just saved my tires early on and in the end, we got the lead and had good tires to make the run to the Checkered Flag! The best part was doing the burnoutsaftewards, replies a happy Harrison in victory lane.
Miller rebounded to finish second and Reitenour was third followed by Crabtree and Sweizer.
Though Miller and Reitenour have had several on track altercations, it was the tangle with Crabtree that cost her the race and found herself catching back up.
"I hate I got into him. At that point in the race, I was substantially faster than the 63. I had tracked him down from a half of lap back. I got under him and thought we would be ok, but he pinched me down getting into 3 and I got on the flat and washed up into him. It was just racing. However, given that he dumped me the next lap, I guess he didn't think it was racing. No big deal, we'll try to win at Ona, WV!", replied Reitenour.
Though he got the pole, led the most laps and the halfway mark, Crabtree left the track very dejected.
Crabtree wasn’t the only one dejected. Second place points challenger, Daniel Johnson, was fielding a car at a race in Hickory NC and missed the nights events and took a hit in the seasons points chase.
New driver Rob Jones had mechanical problems was unable to start the race.
Ricky Gillespie, making his first start and winner of the Young Guns Challenge had a couple of spins and managed a ninth place finish.
This was race number six for the young Super Cup Stock Car Series, running in its first season. Four events remain on the schedule.
The next race comes up August 16, a Saturday night event in Ona West Virginia, the home state for Harrison. Can we see another “Hurricane” brewing up?
Final Results A&G Coal Company 100
1. Joe Harrison III, Rennick WVA
2. Ryan Miller, South Charleston OH
3. Megan Reitenour, Miamisburg OH
4. Jim Crabtree Jr, Muncie IN
5. Wally Schweizer, Schrewsbury PA
6. Neil Gacom, Hinckley OH
7. Mike Kurkowski, Troutman NC
8. Mike Williams, Conover NC
9. Ricky Gillespie Floyd VA
10. Todd Peck, Glenville PA
11. Larry Wilcox, Denver NC
12. Rob Jones, Bowie MD
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