2012 Rookie of Year Dillon Bassett Becomes Runner-Up

Series PR Report by Kassie Hughes
Photo by: Drew Hierwarter

Hendersonville, NC(December 31, 2012) — After winning Circle Wheel and Xtreme Trophy’s Rookie of the Race awards seven times throughout the season, Dillon Bassett was crowned the 2012 Rookie of the Year after his flawless performance at the season finale at Rockingham. Bassett will get his official Rookie trophy and recognition on January 12^th at the Crowne Plaza in Hickory NC at the UARA Championship Banquet.

Looking back on the season, Bassett and his crew developed into a strong, competitive team. The young driver from Winston-Salem used his rookie season as a learning tool and took advantage of every learning opportunity presented to him.  Bassett is the next to youngest UARA Rookie of the Year in eleven seasons.  At the ripe age of 15, he comes in six months older than 2008 rookie winner Darrell Wallace Jr.  Bassett turned 15 in April where Wallace didn’t turn 15 until October of his rookie season.

“Last year, I spent my racing season at one track, getting adjusting to a bigger car,” says Bassett. “But this year, we moved to UARA because of the 150-lap races on one set of tires. That really teaches a driver that they can’t just go out, run 150 qualifying laps, and win the race. Traveling to different tracks, where no two tracks are the same, really gave me room to grow.”

During the first few races, Bassett was hoping just to come out and run upfront. After becoming the runner-up to his older brother Ronnie Jr. at Dillon, he started to get the itch for a win. On June 23^rd Bassett won his first UARA-STARS career win during the Banjo Matthews Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway. Four events later, Bassett visited victory lane for the second time.

“As the season progressed, we just started getting better and better,” says young Spark Plug. “We never thought we would finish the season with two wins. Our year has been really good and we couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Bassett’s good year consisted of 13 top-10s, 10 top-5s, two wins and his first Sunoco pole. He was also the only driver to win five Holley Performer of the Race Awards this season. For his ‘fence jumping’ performance at Concord, he won Pigwire’s Electrifying Move of the Race and Safety Kleen awarded him for his 12^th place finish. He also won Tilton’s 10^th and 5^th place award and WP Racing Shocks’ 6^th place award twice. Ultra Cool Brake Fans and Racing Electronics awarded him for his three runner-up finishes. Bassett won JRI Top Shock Finisher four times. Five Star Bodies and Ford awarded him for his two victories.

As of now, Bassett is planning to run another full season with the UARA-STARS. He wants more seat time, but also running for that Championship that he was only 18 points shy of this season. Fans can keep up with Dillon Bassett by following him, along with the other UARA-STARS on Twitter, @uarastars, and “like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association.