Series PR Report
Dillon, SC(April 9, 2012) –- A full moon hung over Dillon Motor Speedway as the Bassett brothers led the UARA-STARS field to the checkered in Saturday night’s Eggs-traordinary 150. Elder brother Ronnie took his second UARA win in a row followed by his younger brother Dillon, Scott Turlington, Josh Wright and Sunoco Pole winner Travis Swaim.
Ronnie Jr. and little brother Dillon battled for the top two positions during the last thirty-five laps of the race. The pair held on to the top two spots following two late-race, double-file restarts and a side-by-side fraternal battle during the last four circuits.
“I had a blast racing with my brother during those last couple laps,” Ronnie Jr. said in victory lane. “To be his first year in this series, I’m very proud of him. I spun the tires on that last restart and I thought he might get me on the outside, but we were able to drive back around him with less than two to go. It’s just a testament to this team and what they do to these cars for us to come home one-two.”
Dillon fought his way from the ninth position, earning the Holley Performer of the Race Award for gaining the most positions in addition to his first Xtreme Trohies and More Rookie of the Race award.
“That was fun, but I really wish I could’ve beaten him,” said Dillon Bassett after congratulating his brother on the win. “He’s a great driver. He’s taught me everything I know and I keep learning from him everywhere we go.”
The Bassett family gathering did not take shape until the final half of the event. Sunoco Pole winner Travis Swaim and outside pole starter Scott Turlington jumped out to a straightaway lead on the field, battling amongst themselves for the opening segments of the race. Swaim’s tires gave up first, causing him to relinquish the lead to Turlington, but the late race restarts were the downfall of both drivers.
“We weren’t saving anything,” said Turlington after the event. “We saved too much last race at Hickory and we didn’t want that to happen again. I knew when we got those late restarts, though, that the Bassetts were both back there and coming, and they had more tire left than I did. We’ll figure this deal out though and be back at Rockingham trying to get a win.”
While those up front were jubilant, there were some heated tempers further back through the field under Saturday’s full moon. Jake Morris, who qualified fourth, broke a crankshaft during the opening pace laps and finished 25th. Once the race started, turn four became “calamity corner” as R.A. Brown got turned around twice (the latter of which ended his night). Teammates Ben Rhodes and Clayton Pyne collided, and many other young drivers found themselves turned in the opposite direction to traffic at various times during the evening. Joey Bryant who was making his first UARA run of the season was awarded the Pigwire Electrifying Move of the Race Award for dodging the bullet many times as his fellow competitors had their spins.
The next stop for the UARA-STARS will be next weekend at Rockingham Speedway Saturday April 14, 2012 as companion to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. All practice sessions for the Trucks, UARA and the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals will take place on Friday.
The UARA-STARS will open on-track activities on Saturday with qualifying at 10am and racing at 2pm. The Camping World Truck Series will qualify at approximately 3:30pm with the Kimmel race following at approximately 4:45pm. Grandstand admission to Friday’s activities is free while Saturday tickets are only $15 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.
Eggs-traordinary 150 Results:
1. Ronnie Bassett Jr.
2. Dillon Bassett
3. Scott Turlington
4. Josh Wright
5. Travis Swaim
6. Roger Powell
7. Devin Jones
8. Sean Rayhall
9. Clayton Pyne
10. Ben Rhodes
11. Joey Herques
12. Tim George, Jr.
13. Tyler Laing
14. Joey Bryant
15. Tyler English
16. Brandon Jones
17. Scott Bishop
18. Kaleb Pressley
19. Julia Dawson
20. Quinn Fowler
21. Will Gallaher
22. R.A. Brown
23. Logan Bunning
24. Cory Joyce
25. Jake Morris
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).