HENDERSONVILLE, NC :: After having a record breaking season with eleven rookies, the United Auto Racing Association (UARA) welcomes the new freshmen class to the tour. While some new drivers are still getting their paperwork in order, four drivers have confirmed to be UARA’s 2013 Rookie Class: Michael Leavine, Garrett Jones, David Garbo Jr., and Dylan Hall.
The rookie program is to develop drivers who have not competed in more than six UARA races during previous seasons. Fat Head Racing’s David Garbo Jr. began getting familiar with the tour last season as he ran six races in the no. 8 Stanley Ford Fusion. He made his series debut during the Annual Banjo Matthews Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway in June and brought home a 5th place finish proving he will be a driver to keep your eye on. Under the guidance of team owner Jamie Yelton this team should be a front contender.
Former NASCAR Star Shane Hall passes down his racing genes to his 14 year-old son Dylan. Hall made his UARA debut last season during the tour’s second visit to Anderson Motor Speedway. During that event, Hall missed an early caution and brought home a 16th place finish in a 21 car field. He followed that up with his second UARA visit the following week at Tri County Speedway bringing home a respectible 11th place finish out of a 25 car field.
Leavine and Jones have not yet been behind of the wheel during an UARA event, but have had plenty of experience with late model-like cars. Leavine ran in the ACRA series for the past two years, while his teammate Scott Speed will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 23 year-old Texan is a development driver of Leavine Family Racing. Leavine had hoped to run the UARA season finale at Rockingham but engine failure in practice ended his hopes early.
For the few years that Jones has spent in the motorsport industry, he has definitely turned some heads and made a name for himself. During Dillon Motor Speedway’s 2012 Independence Day celebration, the 12 year-old out ran the other local competitors and won the Charger division.
Each of these drivers have an impressive resume and will be an asset to the UARA-STARS racing family. To find out about all of our STARS, fans can follow them on Twitter, @uarastars, and “like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association.
