One staple since almost the beginning of the Super Cup Stock Car Series has been the presence of the Harrison family from deep in the valley of West Virginia. 2015 will be no different with three family members intending to run the full schedule once again, and perhaps looking forward to it the most is the youngest member of the racing family Brandon Harrison.
The driver in his mid-20s will return to racing on a full time basis after very limited starts in the last couple seasons. Brandon got back in a rhythm quickly at the final race of 2014 with a top five qualifying effort and although his race was cut short after being collected in a wreck, he is optimistic heading into the season opener.
“I am excited to be back on my feet with my life, and I am ready to have a breakout season,” said Brandon.
Although Brandon has never been to CNB Bank Raceway Park, he enjoys the style that the facility has to offer.
“I like these big tracks,” mentioned Brandon. “They are more of an equalizer and are easier to driver, honestly. We scaled the car to get it close to where (father Harvey and older brother Brian’s) are at. We’ll talk and communicate on practice day to adjust on it. We do pretty good with what we’ve got.”
In addition to his father and brother, Brandon has relied on the 2014 champion JJ Pack for advice and plans to use what he has learned over the last few years toward his 2015 effort.
“People will help you and they’re all like family in the Super Cup Series,” said Brandon. “JJ has told me things like ‘hit all your marks and let it roll into the corners’ to help me out. I want to be competitive, be in the hunt, and maybe win my first one. Patience is the key. I need to be smarter and save the car.”
The patriarch of Harrison’s Motorsports, three-time series winner Harvey Harrison, has been hard at work in the shop preparing their cars for competition. Harvey finished fourth in the final standings in 2014, but it was a rough road to get there after various mechanical problems sidelined him early on a couple occasions.
Meanwhile, Harvey’s oldest son Brian has momentum riding in his favor after leading laps and finishing runner up in the 2014 finale. He appears hungry to get his first career series victory and contend for the championship in 2015 after a promising 2014 season was interrupted in the middle of the year when a hand injury in the shop took him out of the driver’s seat.
Despite the long travel from their home, the team that often tows the most cars to each event continues competing in the Super Cup Stock Car Series for many reasons.
“It’s the most affordable thing you can do,” added Brandon. “I like how we can leave it all on the racetrack. We’re all friends after the race is over.”
