KENLY, NC :: Reigning Champion Travis Swaim started his season with another UARA Sunoco Pole clocking a time of  15.142  at Southern National Motorsport Park .  This was not a track record but a new UARA pole record for SNMP.  Brodie Kostecki on the outside at a 15.201 followed by Dillon Bassett at a 15.407.

Dillon Bassett, reigning Rookie of the Year and championship runner up, jumped out early with Swaim and the two dominated the first half of the race with Swaim at the point.

After several laps of side by side, nose to tail action David Garbo Jr. and Chandler Levan made contact coming out of turn four on lap 104 sending Levan into a spin on the frontstretch.  This brought out the only caution of the race. Garbo Jr. had little damage and finished 9th collecting the Circle Wheel/Xtreme Trophies and more Rookie of the Race Award .  Levan would end his day early after having a good start to his Rookie challenge.  Levan received the Pigwire Elecxtrifying Move of the Race Award for this event.

With the late race restart Swaim continued his lead. During that restart many drivers jumped on the wheel but ran out of time to battle for the lead, including third and fourth place finishers Ben Rhodes and Garret Campbell.  However Ronnie Bassett Jr. charged for the lead on lap 128 and continued to hold that position to become the winner of the 2013 Season Opener at Southern National Motorsport Park on Saturday, March 9th.  Ronnie Bassett, Jr. had Travis Swaim hanging to his bumper from the time he took the lead until the finish.

Charlie Long was awarded the Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race Award for supplying the powerhouse in the Ronnie Bassett Jr. machine.

The 2013 Rookie class made a powerful statement in Saturday’s race. Dylan Hall was the first rookie to make his move. After spinning during the final practice, which produced brake problems, the team hustled to get his car race ready. His 12th place starting position gave him experience of passing competitors in a UARA car. Rookie Garret Jones in his first UARA event battled with the other two ‘Jones” boys  Brandon and Devin.. Brandon and Devin raced clean with the young rookie and put on a good battle late in the race while Bassett drove away to victory. Brandon Jones came home with the Holley Performer of the Race Award after gaining the most positions during the race..

Thomas Beane and Chandler Levan familiarized themselves with battling for positions, but stayed out of the leaders way. On lap 99, Beane was making his way through turn three and made brief contact with Brodie Kostecki. Beane stayed on the wheel and never spun, awarding him the Cool Under Pressure Award.

Last year’s rookie challenger Will Gallaher and this season’s rookie Michael Leavine used Saturday’s Season Opener as a learning experience. Gallaher didn’t run the full UARA season last year and is still getting his feel to his race car.  The team made changes on the power system over the winter and will continue to improve with the season.

Kostecki had the start of a good weekend when he dominated practice on Friday and qualified 2nd. After the first twenty laps, he began to fall back. He decided to bring it in to have the crew look at it, and that’s when he made contact with Beane. Kostecki’s problems turned out to be electrical, ending his day early. Kostecki was award the

ARbodies Hard Luck Award for this event.

Campbell’s teammate Tyler Edwards, who is new to the series, took lessons from Campbell and followed him during the majority of the race. Edwards brought home a 7th place finish for his first UARA event.

Several drivers were definitely showing their muscle for this season opener. Swaim  came home with the Tilton Most Laps Led Award having lead 127 of the 150 total laps.

For more information on the UARA-STARS, visit them online at www.uara-stars.com  or call (828) 692-3833. Fans are also encouraged to “like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association and follow them on Twitter @uarastars.

UARA Season Opener Finishing Order
1.  #04 Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
2.  #28 Travis Swaim
3.  #41 Ben Rhodes
4.  #12 Garrett Campbell
5.  #44 Dillon Bassett
6.  #33 Brandon Jones
7.  #7 Tyler Edwards
8.  #35 Devin Jones
9.  #8 David Garbo, Jr.
10.  #88 Garrett Jones
11.  #31 Thomas Beane
12.  #4 Dylan Hall
13.  #95 Michael Leavine
14.  #6 Will Gallaher
15.  #81 Chandler Levan
16.  #40 Brodie Kostecki