Who will be the 2006 UARA Champions ?

This event will be nothing short of phenomenal. Drivers will be competing for two different championships plus several are trying to gain a top ten point finish as well.

2005 UARA Champion Matt McCall will be on hand to try and win this final race of the season. McCall had a great run at the UARA race last week having set on the pole but was involved in an early caution. He managed to work his way through the field however and bring home a third place finish. McCall proved he still has that championship form and brings with him that wonderful smile we all know and love so well.

Craftsman Truck standout Joe Rutman will be making his first appearance with the UARA-STARS. Rutman will get the opportunity to see first hand just what a competitive lot of drivers the UARA-STARS brings on board each and every week.

All eyes will be following the cars of Brandon Ward, Alex Yontz and Kyle Grissom. These young men will be trying everything within their power to be crowned the 2006 Champion.

Brandon Ward comes into Hickory the leader with a 39-point advantage over Alex Yontz and 43 points ahead of third place contender Kyle Grissom. Brandon has and average finish of 6.71 for the 2006 season. Alex Yontz’ average finish is 8.50 and Grissom’s is 8.57.

Ward has had 13 top ten finishes out of 14 races and two wins under his belt showing just what a consistent and determined racer he is. Yontz has had 10 top ten finishes and 3 wins. Grissom comes into Hickory with 9 top ten finishes and 2 wins with one of those wins being at Hickory Motor Speedway in the season opener.

Finishing in the top ten in points will be a last race challenge for several drivers. Mark King inched his way into the top ten at TCMS last Saturday night. He is just a mere 15 points ahead of Ross Furr, 16 ahead of Jake Crum, 29 ahead of Scooter Hillis and 45 ahead of Mark Setzer who definitely knows his way around Hickory Motor Speedway.

It is any mans show at this point and should prove most interesting.

As with the UARA series Championship the Melling Select Rookie Championship race will be down to the wire. Barry Andrews coming off of a fantastic run last weekend will be trying to come home the champion. Andrews proved his capabilities last week coming home with both the Melling Select Rookie of the Race Award and the Holley Performer of the Race Award. Andrews also was acknowledged as the hard charger of the event as well for gaining 17 positions during the race. Andrews enters this final race with a 45-point lead over Justin Hill. Andrews has an average finish of 12.21 and Hill has an 11.62 average so far in 2006. Hill fell back in points however after failing to qualify for a race at Southern National in Kenly this past April.

The Denver Marine 150 will conclude a very exciting finish to a great year of racing for the UARA-STARS.

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

Press release by Wink Bodenhamer 10/25/06