UARA-STARS 2005
Season, 2006 Preview
The
UARA-STARS (United Auto Racing Association -
Southern Touring Asphalt Racing Series) 2005 racing season
started and ended in Hickory, North Carolina and the
14 races in between was a race fans buffet. Each
event the fans were served with plenty
of top name stars,
a
rookie
class that gave
the veterans a run for the money, many
first
time winners, loaded
with lots
of fast side by side racing, a very tight point’s
race, and no one dominating
the series.
The
UARA just finished its fourth season, and it keeps
getting better and better. This year there were nine
different winners in sixteen races along with nine
different Sunoco Pole Award Winners.
This season there were seven first time winners,
that alone shows you how tough the competition is.
When you visit eleven different tracks, for a
sixteen race schedule, the competition level rises
far pasts any race fans expectation. Amazingly, one
hundred and twenty nine different drivers took
qualifying times this season. Proving again, that
the UARA is the place to race Late Models.
This year Matt McCall of Denver, North Carolina has
added his name to the record books as the 2005
UARA-STARS Champion. Matt, a past Hickory Motor
Speedway Champion took his Team Denver Marina crew
and hit the highways chasing the Championship from
the first race. His consistent qualifying, running
up front and winning races, kept Matt in the chase
all year. His team’s “never say die” attitude and
proven that they can adapt quickly to new race
tracks made Matt, a team to beat every race. Matt
made some impressive numbers on the way to winning
his first tour Championship. Matt had five wins and
four poles, led many laps and completed an
astounding 2432 laps. Consistency, determination and
a lot of natural talent, along with a dedicated
team, led Matt to the 2005 Championship.
Jamey Caudill of Four Oaks, North Carolina chased
the Championship from the first race to the last.
Jamey was consistently at Matt McCall’s back bumper,
Jamey won an impressive five Sunoco Pole Award and
visited victory lane four times. Jamey who has won
numerous track Championships and a NASCAR regional
Championship, raced as clean as any driver going for
the gold would have. In any other series or season,
Jamey Caudill would have won the Championship, but
this year a separation of only sixty-six points kept
Caudill and his team from sitting at the head
table at the awards banquet. But don’t count Jamey
Caudill and his crew out; they could be the favorite
in 2006.
Tony Grady of Raleigh, North Carolina had a good
year again in the tour finishing fourth in the
points standings. Tony who will tell you is still
behind by his standards, being used to winning many
races each year at local tracks, hasn’t gave up on
the tour. His determination to win at this level is
growing, and he refuses to give up.
R.A
Brown of Columbia, South Carolina stepped up this
year and finished a very respectable fifth in the
points chase. R.A. kept in the top of the points
chase by being consistent in qualifying and racing
hard. His team never backed down and many times had
to come to pit road for repairs, and still returned
back on the track for a great finish.
Among all the national attention the UARA tour
draws, two drivers, both Champions in this series,
were amongst the finalist for Jack Rousch’s Gong
Show that is being featured nationally on the
Discover Channel. Drivers Matt McCall the 2005
Champion and Danny O’Quinn Jr. the 2002 Champion
have made it to the finals. Both drivers have shown
the talent and ability to draw the attention of the
sports biggest car owner. Danny a finalist in 2004,
split some time between ARCA, Hooters Cup and UARA,
settled in back with the UARA and kept his car up
front almost every time he raced, picking up a big
win at his home track, Lonesome Pine Motor Speedway,
in Coeburn Va.
Had
Danny O’Quinn raced all sixteen races this season,
he would have probably been in the Championship hunt
with McCall and Caudill. Matt McCall raced his heart
out for the Championship and drew attention not only
for his ability to draw a large fan following, but
showed he too has the natural talent to compete in
the next level with top stars of NASCAR. Both Matt
and Danny were able to stay focused on both racing
the UARA and trying to stay in the hunt for the
ultimate job with Roush Racing. Both drivers have
represented what the owners of the UARA have wanted,
and that’s to help drivers draw National attention
and be a stepping stone for their racing careers.
Kyle Grissom the 2005 UARA-STARS Rookie of The Year
Winner is the son of Busch series Champion Steve
Grissom. Kyle showed a lot of talent this year as he
not only won the Rookie title, but also picked up a
win at Anderson Motor Speedway. Grissom, who
finished the season third in points, was a
consistent threat each time his car hit the track.
He and his team showed that rookie was only a title,
because this young gun came close many times to
taking home the pole award and a few other
victories. Look for this team to be a Championship
contender.
The
UARA has over the past four seasons helped many
drivers move up that ladder toward their ultimate
goal of being a Craftsman Truck, Busch, ARCA,
Hooters Cup or even Nextel Cup drivers. Drivers
like Alex Yontz, Jack Bailey have won in the UARA;
both have run some Craftsman Truck Series races this
year.
Steven Wallace son of Nextel champion Rusty Wallace
was the 2004 UARA Rookie of The Year, winning three
UARA races and poles, included the first ever Late
Model race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Steven
recently picked up a big win in ARCA at Michigan
Motor Speedway, also ran his first Busch race this
season at Nashville. Steven will tell you his time
with the UARA prepared him for the travel and
learning to quickly adapt to different tracks.
Speaking of tracks, the UARA 2006 season isn’t far
off and a lot of new tracks are being put on the
schedule. New tracks for 2006 include, Motor Mile
Speedway, Shenandoah Speedway, Orange County, Myrtle
Beach Speedway and Tri-County motor Speedway. With
the addition of these new tracks to have drivers
show case their talent, along with the tracks that
were visited this past season, 2006 is going to far
exceed everyone expectations.
Everyone knows that 2005 was a great year for the
UARA; Bristol again was the high light of many Late
Model drivers career, going back to Florence again
drew many cars, and as always Hickory packed the
cars in. Tri-County Speedway filled an opening that
proved to be a big turning point in the Championship
race. Elkin, Anderson and South Boston brought out
many new drivers, and everyone’s favorite Lonesome
Pine saw a familiar face in victory lane. Newport
was like always, fast as lightening, and Old
Dominion brought out their local guys to fend off
the tour regulars and the race at Southern National
Speedway tightened up the point’s race. Race fans
2006 will be an exciting season, one year from now
another Champion will be crowned, another short
track driver may be discovered by the big leagues,
but you can count on one thing happening, and that’s
sixteen of the best Late Model races in the
country.
The
2005 season Awards Banquet will be held January 14th
2006 at the Holiday Inn in Hickory, North
Carolina. Last years banquet was filled to capacity
with drivers, crews and fans all in attendance.
Plenty of checks were passed out, awards, great food
and a great program that made the night one to
remember. Last years Champion Jason York left with a
ton of awards, plenty of money and truck loads of
sponsor’s contingency prizes. Plan to attend and
don’t forget to visit uara-stars.com for daily and
weekly news about the 2006 racing series and
schedule. Look for some date on the schedule to be
released Saturday December 3rd, and more exciting
news concerning 2006.
