The championship points battle has shuffled around quite a bit in the past two weeks.  At this time Alex Yontz maintains the lead 40 points ahead of Brandon Ward. Jamie Yelton has fallen back to fourth 82 points behind the leader while 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Grissom is inching his way back up the ladder.  Kyle is in third place now with only one point separating him and Ward. Kyle knows all too well how the points battle can change.  He was earlier this season sitting pretty with a 63 point lead over the rest of the gang and within just a couple of races he found himself at a 70 point deficit.  Yelton is still a strong contender to reckon with having led 411 laps so far this year putting him well ahead of Grissom who has led 249 in second place for the Sonic/Tilton $500.00 award for most laps lead overall at season end. The way our racers have been running this year no one should feel comfortable in their position because it could all change so quickly. 

Mike Giessen  has jumped up into the top ten in points after the great run he had at Newport.  Mike was in the lead there for the first time in his UARA career.  Mike has been showing promise all through the season and who knows where his chase will end. 

The top ten in points standing at this time are:

1                     Alex Yontz                            1023

2                     Brandon Ward                       983

3                     Kyle Grissom                          982

4                     Jamie Yelton                          941

5                     Justin Hill                                815

6                     R.A. Brown                             811

7                     Barry Andrews                       797

8                     Lucas Ransone                      789

9                     Scooter Hillis                          758

10                 Mike Giessen                          749

23-year-old Melling Select Rookie contender Justin Hill has climbed the points ladder and at this time is the highest rookie in the points battle sitting in fifth.  Justin drives the Hill A/C and Auto 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo.  A Sy Earnhardt engine powers his machine and his crew Chief is Greg Peterson.

At an early age Justin raced BMX bikes winning the Briggs & Stratton 300.  He raced go-karts with 11 Grand National wins, many poles and 52 asphalt wins in the WKA.  Prior to his UARA run he has won a late model race at Concord Speedway.  Justin is a mechanic at Haas CNC Racing and enjoys riding jet skis in his spare time.  He is a very determined young man but has some very stiff competition in the rookie standings.

 Justin Hill

                               Barry Andrews

Hot on Justin’s trail a mere 18 points behind is Barry Andrews.  Barry one of our series newlyweds having married Leslie on April 22, 2006  drives a 2006 Monte Carlo sponsored by K& L Chrome Shop, Roberts Towing, Jabs Fireworks and Snap-On Tools.  It is a Townsend car with an ARP body powered by an engine built by his crew chief Scott Stevens.  This is Barry’s first year in late model cars but he has raced karts, Street Stocks and trucks in the past.  Barry had six wins in the truck series at Myrtle Beach Speedway in 2005.  Barry has one son from a previous marriage named Carson. 

Previous rookie leader Lucas Ransone has dropped back to third 26 points behind the leader showing how

quickly these rookie standings can change as well. 

For more info visit www.uara-stars.com  or call 828-692-3833

Press release by Wink Bodenhamer 8/21/06