Garrett Campbell has spent the last few seasons behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock Car and he’s been getting better and better. This year he picked up his first UARA-STARS Win and second win in a LMSC at Concord Speedway. At Ace, Garrett’s also improved and he’s ready to challenge for the victory in the biggest race that Ace Speedway’s held in many years, maybe ever.
Jonathan Cash isn’t a name your used to hearing at Ace Speedway, but the veteran Late Model Stock Car competitor, competing for the always stout, Long Brothers Racing is ready to tackle Ace Speedway. Jonathan is always strong, but doesn’t seem to have the luck that his Long Brothers teammates do. Maybe at Ace in what I believe is his first start on the 4/10mile track, he’ll have the luck he deserves.
Jason York is always good at Ace … honestly he should probably be much higher in the power rankings for this “big race”. Jason’s been one of the most successful drivers through the years at Ace Speedway, but not having run there all season certainly will present a challenge for the veteran and former track champion. However, don’t let his position fool you, he could very well steal the headlines this weekend.
8th — Barry Beggarly #82
Barry Beggarly may well be more than sixty years old, but don’t get it twisted he’s probably still just as good as he ever was and with more than 200 career victories in a Late Model Stock Car, he’ll be the winningest driver in the field. Three of those wins came this year as Beggarly won the final three races of the 2010 season and the veteran may not be done yet, he may just win the final FOUR races of 2010.
Stacy Puryear had one of his best seasons in recent memory and while he only won one race, he maybe saving his best for last. Stacy turned in a solid performance at Martinsville and backed it up with a near winning performance in the Danville Toyota 300 at South Boston Speedway. Stacy isn’t too shabby at Ace Speedway either and with a little luck, the veteran driver could turn in a winning performance on Saturday.
Speedy Faucette may well have only made a handful of starts at Ace Speedway this season, but its Ace Speedway … between he and Rodney Cook, they’ve owned this place the last couple of years. If this was any other race at any other track, Speedy might not be one of the favorites, but he is always one of the best at Ace Speedway. Speedy will be in the mix all race long and could be in position to win it all at the end.
Alex Yontz may have come undone at Caraway Speedway in his most recent start, but the veteran driver has shown that he’s one of the best Late Model Stock Car drivers in history. Yontz will look to put his Caraway issues behind him as he tries to get into victory lane for only the second time in 2010 and his first time in a big race in over a year. Yontz should easily be in the mix even on he tough, tight track.
Dustin Rumley was the best of the best for the first part of the second half of the season after getting himself a new Marlowe Racing Chassis. That move after destroying his primary car, turned his season around as he won pole after pole and picked up a couple of wins. Though, Barry Beggarly shut him out of victory lane at the end of the season, Rumley was the man to beat and even won the championship at Ace.
Frank Dieny, Jr. isn’t washed up … I know many people were questioning him following his run at Caraway in his return a few weeks ago, but the fact is he was knocking the rust off and returning to Ace Speedway, where he won the championship in 2004, Deiny will be even better. Deiny is ready to set the record straight on his driving career and I’m betting when the Ace & Myrtle Beach races are over, the questions will be answered.
Rodney Cook should have easily won the championship at Ace Speedway this season if not for a bad decision on the track management’s part to erase a drivers three worst finishes and a questionable disqualification in the next to last race. Between Cook, Speedy Faucette, Dustin Rumley and Jason York, those drivers have been the best at Ace over the years and I look for those four to be in contention from the drop of the green flag in practice on Friday.
Matt McCall and Philip Morris are the hottest names in the Late Model Stock Car business right now … and well they should be as they’ve dominated this seasons big races with McCall taking three and Morris two. The duo also finished one, two at Martinsville in the biggest race ever and while winning his fourth “big race” at Ace isn’t a sure bet I wouldn’t want to bet against him. Since moving to Jamie Yelton’s FatHead Racing, McCall has been nearly unbeatable and I’m sure he’d like to keep that streak going.