UARA STARS News

UARA STARS springs into action at Hickory Motor Speedway

Hickory, NC (March 12) – UARA STARS Late Model Touring Series will roar back into action this Saturday March 18. This will be the first of sixteen events for the STARS Drivers to have a chance to compete for the 2006 Championship. 2005 UARA STARS Champion and past Hickory Motor Speedway Champion, Matt McCall will not be in the starting line-up for this event. McCall has moved on to drive an ARCA and Busch Series car for Robert Yates Racing.

A lot of drivers have used UARA as a stepping stone to the next level; Danny O’Quinn has a full time Busch ride with Roush Racing, as well as Denny Hamlin, Eric McClure, and Stephen Liecht, all who have wins in the series.

Which now brings us to 2006, who will be the next UARA STARS Champion and who will be the next STARS Driver to make the jump to the next level?

Over forty entries are expected for this weekend’s season opener at Hickory Motor Speedway. Jamie Yelton and his Forest City “Bad Boys” crew should be one of the favorites to win the race. Yelton took the last part of 2005 away from UARA to re-group and was able to do so by winning The Fall Brawl held at Hickory Motor Speedway. Yelton has lead more laps and won the most SUNOCO Poles out all active STARS Drivers at Hickory. Other favorites will include two time winner Tim Weaver, Ross Furr, 2004 winner Ashley Huffman, 2005 UARA STARS Rookie Of the Year Kyle Grissom, Mark King and just about any of the other thirty or so entries.

There will be approximately 8 drivers competing for the Melling Select Pumps Rookie of the Year Award. Rookie entries so far include, Bruce Stachitas Jr. Scooter Hillis, Matt Lassiter, Josh Hale, Justin Hill, KC Cunningham, and Clay Jones. Other Rookie contenders are not registered at press time.

There will be an open practice for all drivers on Friday beginning at 10 and ending at dark.

Saturday’s action will get under way with pit gates opening at 9:00 am, practice beginning at 11:00 am, local practice at 2:45, Grandstands open at 4:30, SUNOCO Pole Qualifying at 5:00, UARA STARS Pit Party “Meet the Drivers”, which gives the fans a chance to come down on the track and meet and greet the driver’s and get autographs at 7:00 and racing action at 8:00. Local divisions include Legends, Street Stocks and Hobby cars.

For more information contact UARA STARS at 828-692-3833, Hickory Motor Speedway at (828) 464-3655 or visit the web at www.uara-stars.com, www.hickorymotorspeedway.com and www.tracksidetalk.com

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the STARS