Compiled by: Langley Austin ~ [email protected]

Copper Hill, VA(March 22, 2012) — Another week of racing is in the books as the second week of the Late Model Stock Car season brought about a new year of UARA-STARS Series racing, a reopening of a dormant track and two South Carolina tracks season openers as well as the second installment of racing Kingsport style.

This weekend was full of action and had a couple of drivers really stand out with big performances at either their home track or the UARA-STARS Series and when it was all said and done, the drivers listed below made the biggest impression this week.

10 – Kaleb Pressley
This third generation racer has been somewhat quiet since moving to the UARA-STARS Series full-time in 2011, but right out of the gate, the youngster made an impression on the 11th year series as he wheeled his car from his 14th starting position to nearly lead the race following an early restart. That kind of performance has to give him confidence despite having mechanical issues and not finishing the race.

9 – Michael Rouse
After bouncing around for the last few seasons while Southern National Motorsports Park sat dormant in Lucama, NC, just miles from his home, Michael Rouse was looking to make his presence known on opening day. Qualifying third for the first race, he had a problem and came to pit road with nine to go, but in race two he drove a great race and finished up second, getting his season off to a solid start.

8 – Ben Rhodes
As one of several Rookie of the Year candidates, Ben Rhodes started off his season the best of any of them as he won the Rookie of the Race as the highest finishing rookie driver in the field. He finished third in the 150-lap race after starting 10th and kept his car nearly completely clean. It was a great run for the young driver and hopefully for him a sign of things to come, but he’ll now travel to tracks that he doesn’t have as much as experience on as he does at Hickory.

7 – Roger Powell
Roger Powell is easily one of the most recognized names in Late Model Stock Car racing throughout the UpState South Carolina, Newport, Hickory region of racing. He’s won a lot of races, but some of his best performances has come in the UARA-STARS Series in his last two starts. He led a bunch of laps last fall before slipping back at Newport and did the same thing at Hickory this weekend. Powell could easily be one of the cars to beat in UARA if he’d remember that the races are 150-laps and not 50, 75 or even 100.

6 – Randy Porter
The 2011 season was a successful one for Randy Porter as he scored nine race wins with three at Anderson Motor Speedway and six at Greenville Pickens Speedway. And, if the start to 2012 is any indication, he’s going to be a force in the UpState of South Carolina once again as he took the win in the season opener at Anderson on Friday night. Look for him to continue to make noise this season, especially without his arch rival, Anthony Anders to compete against at Anderson.

5 – Doug Godsey
One driver that has been known over the last decade as one of the most aggressive drivers in a Late Model Stock Car has been Doug Godsey. The veteran driver has been in his share of tussles as well as having been accused of running block for a National Champion a few years ago. However, under the guidance of crew chief, Phil Warren, the veteran has begun to calm down and is starting to come into his own as a driver. A second and fifth place finish in the season opening events at Southern National Motorsports Park have him building momentum even before his season at Langley Speedway gets underway.

4 – Andy Mercer
When Andy Mercer moved to the UARA in 2011, many speculated that he’d quickly fall out of the series much like another three-time Hickory Motor Speedway champion did in the year before him. However, that didn’t happen and Mercer stuck through a rough first half of the season and eventually claimed a win in the series in the second half of the season. Mercer was tough in Saturday nights opener on his home turf too as he led several laps and was Ronnie Bassett, Jr.’s only competition in the final laps of the race.

3 – Daniel Pope II
In week one of the season at Kingsport Speedway, Daniel Pope proved that he had one of the best cars at the track, but after getting shuffled out early in the race when the two cars ahead of him made contact he finished a disappointing third. Week two was different however as the young driver put his car out front and held off track dominator, Nate Monteith for the win. Now it looks as if he and Monteith will battle it out tooth and nail for the track title after the other two drivers, who looked to be in the mix destroyed their cars in a wreck together.

2 – Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
“Bulldog” as he’s known in the pit area, Ronnie Bassett, Jr. isn’t known for dominating races, but it seems as the laps run down and time is running out, he seems to have more gas than anyone. He proved that once again on Saturday night in the UARA-STARS Series race as he started on the outside pole, led a few laps and then drifted to as low as sixth. As the laps clicked off, he made his way back to the leaders and on the final restart out powered Andy Mercer for the win. “Bulldog” looks to be the man to beat in the UARA if Hickory is any indication at all ….

1 – Deac McCaskill
A year ago, Deac McCaskill had went into oblivion … lost as a driver, serving as crew chief to Darrell Gilchrist and possibly with his driving career over. Gilchrist then decides to sell out, makes McCaskill a deal and Southern National Motorsports Park, McCaskill’s home track is sold and to be reopened. On opening day, McCaskill turned SNMP into his own personal playground, winning the first of twin races by nearly a second over the second place finisher and completing the domination by winning race number two. If the season opener was any indicator, the rest of the field is in for a long season at Southern National.