Client PR Report
Durham, NC(November 14, 2012) – After a strong performance at Martinsville Speedway veteran engine builder, Jeremy Upchurch has revamped his program and looks for more success at Myrtle Beach.
With at least two of the fastest Late Model Stock Cars at Martinsville Speedway for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, Upchurch still wasn’t happy with the results. He’s spent every waking hour since the seasons biggest race preparing for what many consider the second biggest event. The Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway is a 250-lap Late Model Stock Car race that tests the best in the business.
Upchurch is hoping that while he’ll only have one bullet in the chamber this weekend that the hours put into the engine program for rookie, Ben Rhodes will be the winning one.
“We’ve been working non-stop since Martinsville,” said Upchurch. “We’ve been working hard on a new combination that we think will be tough at Myrtle Beach.”
Rhodes, who drives for former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Lee McCall and his Hawk-McCall Motorsports was impressive at Martinsville Speedway almost a month ago. Rhodes was running in the top ten prior to the halfway point and was inverted to the lead at the start of the second half. He got shuffled back as the laps clicked off, but still managed a 14th place finish in the biggest Late Model race of his career.
Upchurch wasn’t content to go back to the track this weekend at Myrtle Beach with the same engine combination and has put in a lot of hours getting Rhodes’ engine ready for it’s debut.
“We never stop working to make our program better,” continued Upchurch. “We might have won a lot of races this year including the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, a handful at Kingsport and a couple UARA races, but we want to win them all.”
Upchurch’s UltraTech Race Development has been in victory lane many times over this past season with several of them coming with Nate Monteith behind the wheel at Kingsport Speedway. Monteith won 10 races on the concrete track in East Tennessee as well as the track championship and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Tennessee State Championship.
UltraTech Engines were also carried to multiple wins by young, Ronnie Bassett, Jr. Bassett won races in the UARA-STARS Series and under the NASCAR banner at Southern National Motorsports Park. Bassett, who was anticipated to compete at Myrtle Beach Speedway this weekend won’t be able to do so after an indefinite NASCAR suspension stemming from an incident at Martinsville.
“I’m really disappointed that we won’t have Ronnie (Bassett) Jr. running one of our cars this weekend at Myrtle Beach Speedway. With the way we ran together this season, I was expecting big things here in the big races with him.”
Upchurch said that he’s confident in what Rhodes and McCall can do this weekend with the new combination.
“They will be the only car I have to focus on this weekend and I think that could produce even better results. Ben (Rhodes) is a great young race car driver and has proven his talent behind the wheel. Lee McCall is a great crew chief and we’ve already won together this season with Tony Stewart behind the wheel at Richmond.”
Upchurch is looking to build on his resume, one that already includes building engines for not only some of the top Late Model drivers, but NASCAR teams as well. Working in the engine department for Petty Enterprises and side by side with top engine builders such as Ernie Elliott and Joey Arrington.
When Myrtle Beach is over, UltraTech’s development will continue as they use veteran Late Model Stock Car racer and noted chassis builder, Greg Marlowe to continue to improve their program. Upchurch is hoping that Marlowe’s valuable feedback will help develop more power in lower rpm range.
“Working with Greg Marlowe has been invaluable for our program,” stated Upchurch. “We have worked together several times over the years and with his experience he can help us develop our program faster.”
For more information on UltraTech Race Development and what they can do for your racing program please visit their website at http://www.ultratechracedevelopment.com/ or contact Jeremy Upchurch at (919) 323.0100