UARA-STARS Go Friday Night Racing at Kingsport
Hendersonville, NC (4/30/12) –United Auto Racing Association will head to Kingsport Speedway and race under the lights Friday, May 4th. This will be the fourth event of the season.
The UARA is always excited to visit the Kingsport Speedway having been a major stepping stone to re-opening the track back on November 7, 2009 after the speedway had been closed down for seven long years. Brandon McReynolds was the happy winner of the event that started the rebirth of Kingsport Speedway.
Bloomingdale Car Care had posted a special award. The pole winner would receive a $ 50.00 bonus if he/she broke the track late model record of 15.236. If the pole winner qualified below the 15.000-second mark then the bonus will double to $100.00. That challenge was not met but the fans were hyped and proved it with the amazing crowd that was there to show their support of the speedway. McReynolds sat on the pole at a 15.101.
The UARA has always been impressed by the support of the community and businesses surrounding the speedway.
The 15.236 Sunoco Pole time was finally broken by one talented young driver by the name of Coleman Pressley at the UARA event held there on March 27, 2010. Pressley not only set records in 2010 but he came home at the end of the season as the 2010 UARA Champion. Pressley now runs a limited schedule and will be on hand to defend his record at this weeks event. The current record held by Pressley is 15.069.
Current points leader, Ronnie Bassett Jr. has won the first two events and finished second in the North Carolina Education Lottery 75 at Rockingham earlier this month. His younger brother, Dillon, has shown fans his racing talent as he is currently second. Other drivers who have been successful for the first few events are Travis Swaim, Ben Rhodes and Jake Morris. Swaim has won two poles, including setting a new track record at Rockingham, while Rhodes, Morris, and Dillon have won Rookie of the Race titles.
In preparation for this weekend, Rhodes, Garrett Campbell, Turlington, Paddy Rodenbeck, and Bassett Jr. were invited to the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown that aired on SPEED this past week. The STARS impressed many as they worked through the field of experienced Sprint Cup and Late Model drivers. Rookie Rhodes finished sixth, while Campbell overcame an incident during the first lap to finish 10th. Bassett Jr. fought motor problems during the race but finished 12th. Turlington was also involved in the first lap incident, but came back to finish 20th, while Rodenbeck finished 31st.
While those drivers were in Richmond, Rookie Clayton Pyne decided to squeeze in extra practice time at Kingsport, by entering the NASCAR Whelen Series race Friday April 27th. Pyne started 15th and finished 10th. The extra experience on the track will defiantly help him during the UARA event.
During their last visit the .375 mile concrete track, the STARS watched former UARA Champion Lee Tissot dominate the Courtesy Chevrolet 150. Reigning UARA Champion Brennan Poole won the Sunoco Pole, but never led a lap with Tissot starting on the outside.
Some of the local talent have pre-registered to run the 150 lap late model event. Kingsport contenders Lee Tissot, Keith Stiltner and Blake Jones to name a few are expected to be there to challenge the UARA regulars.
Racing along with the UARA-STARS will be the Pure 4's, Rookie 4's and the Legend drivers. With these divisions on hand there will be a full night of racing excitement.
Fans are encouraged to follow the UARA-STARS on Twitter (@uarastars) or “like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association for all of their race day updates. For more information on the UARA-STARS, visit them online at www.uara-stars.com or call (828) 692-3833.
Press Release by: Kassie Hughes
Photos by Drew Heiwarter
Brandon McReynolds beat Jamie Caudill to the finish for the first UARA race at Kingsport Speedway
Current UARA Point leader Ronnie Bassett Jr
