Photos by Drew Heiwarter and David Allio
Dillon Bassett Claims First Career
UARA-STARS Victory
Hickory, N.C (6/25/12) –Rookie Dillon Bassett only lead the most important lap of the race to capture the Banjo Matthews Memorial 150 as his first career UARA-STARS victory Saturday Night at Hickory Motor Speedway and that was the money lap number 150.
Sunoco Pole winner Travis Swaim snagged the lead early and had the teammates from Fat Head Racing in a battle for second. Rookie Ben Rhodes and newcomer David Garbo Jr. exchanged positions numerous times as they ran side by side until the first caution.
Rookie challenger Brandon Jones had a tough break as smoke covered the track from his no. 33 machine. The smoke indicated he suffered motor damaged and was done for the night. During the double file restart, Rookie Jake Morris changed up the game and started challenging Rhodes for second. Only a couple seconds behind Swaim, Morris and Rhodes put on a clean, but yet very entertaining race for second. The two rubbed fenders and exchanged paint for at least seventy-five laps or until caution two of the night.
Scott Turlington spun around in turns three and four. Jesse Little got caught up in the misfortune and smacked into the side of Turlington’s car. Turlington’s team made adjustments and sent him back on the track, but Little was done for the night. During the restart, Rhodes got enough momentum to add pressure to leader Swaim and grab the lead.
Meanwhile, Andy Mercer found out that the high groove was working in his favor and was making his way up through the field. With not enough track and the time running out, Mercer began to put heavy pressure on rookies Rhodes, Morris, and Bassett. Fighting for his top five position.
Morris got pushed out of the pressured pack and started falling back. He began racing with Sean Rayhall and they got three wide coming out of turn four. The front stands got a rare view of caution three as Morris drove over the left side of Sean Rayhall with David Garbo,Jr beneath him. Rayhall played the caution laps right and finished on the lead lap with a tore up door.
Will Gallaher spun out in turn and Thomas Beane spun right along with Gallaher to avoid hitting him causing, the final caution of the night.
With the caution so close to the end of the race, it set up a green-white-checkered finish with Rhodes in the lead. Bassett started the restart on the outside of Rhodes and raced clean to the finish. The two were side by side for the lead until turn four when Bassett crossed the finish line first. Swaim, Mercer, and Garbo Jr. were close behind to round out the top five. Garbo Jr. turned many heads as he started on the outside pole and finished fifth in his first late model start.
Bassett was awarded Circle Wheel Rookie of the Race for finishing the hightest out of all the rookies. Swaim led the majority of the race, awarding him Tilton Most Laps Led Award, Holley Performer of the race was Rookie Trey Marchum who qualified 22 and finished seventh, which made him the driver who gained the most positions.
The UARA takes this time to congratulate Tanner Brookshire of Asheville, NC for being the winner of the 2012 Banjo Matthews Memorial Scholarship.
Honored guests Bobby Allison, Ronnie Silver, Bosco Lowe and country singer Tammie Davis had a great time signing autographs prior to the event and all had a great evening at the races
reminiscing of their past races at Hickory Motor Speedway. Ms. Davis helped kick off the evening by singing the National Anthem prior to the racing activities start. Ms Davis posted on her facebook page "I was honored to sing the National Anthem at the Hickory Motor Speedway and a huge 'Thank you' to Ronnie Crate Payne for the invite. It was great to meet everyone. I have pictures from Hickory and
will post this week. Have a great week ya'll!!"
Bobby said " I remember one time when Harry Gant and I were battling for the win. Harry hit me and caused my transmission to break and I still came home with the win ." Ronnie Silver said with a big smile "I signed a lot of autographs tonight."
Along with the UARA -STARS were the Southeast Super Trucks, Allison Legacy cars and the Carolina Vintage Racers making for one super night of racing. Many media outlets were represented along with a host of photographers. Famed motorsports photographer David Allio was on hand and emailed us after the race saying "I've seen over 2000 races in 40 years and this race was one of the ten best ever! Excellent show!"
The next stop for the UARA-STARS will be back in the mountains of Tennessee at Newport Speedway July 14, 2012.
For more info visit www.uara-stars.com ,“like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association, follow them on Twitter @uarastars or call 828-692-3833
Press Release by: Kassie Hughes
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Unofficial Results for the Banjo Matthews Memorial 150:
1.
44 Dillon Bassett
44 Dillon Bassett2. 9 Ben Rhodes
9 Ben Rhodes3.28 Travis Swaim
28 Travis Swaim4.10 Andy Mercer
10 Andy Mercer5. 8 David Garbo Jr.
8 David Garbo Jr.6.23 Roger Powell
23 Roger Powell7.32 Trey Marcham
32 Trey Marcham8.99 Jake Morris
99 Jake Morris9. 5 Jeremy Burns
5 Jeremy Burns10. 7 Taylor Stricklin
7 Taylor Stricklin11.16 Tyler Laing
16 Tyler Laing12.20 Cory Joyce
20 Cory Joyce13.54 Kaleb Pressley
54 Kaleb Pressley14. 2 Tim George Jr.
2 Tim George Jr.15.17 Julia Dawson
17 Julia Dawson16.14 Sean Rayhall
14 Sean Rayhall17. 3 Camden Murphy
3 Camden Murphy18.07 Tyler Church
07 Tyler Church19. 6 William Gallaher
6 William Gallaher20.40 Brodie Kostecki
40 Brodie Kostecki21.51 Tyler English
51 Tyler English22.35 Devin Jones
35 Devin Jones23.31 Thomas Beane
31 Thomas Beane24.58 Scott Turlington
58 Scott Turlington25.97 Jesse Little
97 Jesse Little26.82 Will Burns
82 Will Burns27. 0 Scott Bishop
0 Scott Bishop28.33 Brandon Jones
33 Brandon Jones
Winner Dillon Bassett with Miss UARA Brittney Poe
Sunoco Pole winner Travis Swaim
Holley Performer Trey Marcham
Bassett 44 and Rhodes 9 racing for the win on the final lap
Tough night for 58 Scott Turlinghton and 97 Jesse Little
