Posted by Langley Austin on March 5, 2008, 11:12 am
Board Administrator

Wytheville, VA ~ The headline says the News is Coming, but Slowly .... but the truth is we have an abundance of news on the regions Late Model Stock Car contingent, but most of the stories we've got, simply can't be released yet for one reason or another. *I guess one of the things we can talk about is Jamey Caudill's return to the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Car series. With that he's bringing along his JR Motorsports teammates, Curtis Truex, Jr. and second generation driver, Richard Boswell. Caudill is currently the winningest driver in the UARA series history with nine victories at six different venues. However Caudill has only won on one active UARA-STARS track, Coastal Plains Raceway, where he has won twice. Caudill has finished second in the series points standings before and he's going to be working hard to take the series championship, but not with some serious competition. Caudill's stiffest competition will come from 2007 UARA-STARS Series Champion, Ross Furr, who will return to defend his championship in brand new equipment from Marlowe Racing Chassis and returning with fresh Billy Banks Racing Engines. More competition in the series this year will come from last years second place points finisher, BJ Mackey, who returns to the series driving for a brand new team owned by Darrell Poe from DP Performance Engines and will no doubt be very strong again this season. Also Jamie Yelton, the second winningest driver in series history with six wins will return with new equipment as well as a rookie protege' in Florida's, Paddy Rodenbeck. With those top drivers returning this season as well as Jake Crum, Roger Lee Newton and Clay Greenfield among others it's no doubt going to be a big season of racing in the series this season. *Some of the other goings on around the Late Model Stock Car world includes Chad Harris of Stuarts Draft, VA returning to Motor Mile Speedway full time in 2008 ... we reported it formally first here on RACE22.com and with Harris teamming up with top mechanic, Dave Roope, this is going to be a force at Motor Mile Speedway and Harris brings along three track championships ... so look out for this team when Motor Mile's season gets underway. *Lucas Ransone is preparing for his first Late Model Stock Car race of the season when the green flag falls at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC on March 15th, but he may bring along a teammate if Brad Brinkley climbs behind the wheel of Lucas Ransone Racing's second car. Brinkley certainly a talent, who has been a top qualifier in many of the Bailey's 300 races at Martinsville Speedway. Brinkley and Ransone will certainly be a tough duo in the season opener at Caraway and we'll be there to bring you all the action ... if it doesn't rain as it is calling for on my favorite weather website www.accuweather.com and it's 15 day forecast. *Ace Speedway is gearing up for another big season with the Late Model Stock Car class looking good with several new and several returning faces ... RD Smith, who won a handful of races several seasons ago before selling out will return this season as well as some new faces that we'll report on in the coming weeks. Look for an in-depth report on Ace Speedway and all the rest of the tracks in the coming weeks. *Langley Speedway is ready to return with Late Model Stock Cars this season and some big names in the eastern Virginia region are planning to return to this fine facility. Langley Speedway will also be staging a trio of big races at different dates throughout the season and we'll have more on those races and who will be heading east for these big races. *Franklin County Speedway is very busy promoting their 2008 season, the email box has been full of news coming out of this newly ASA sanctioned track. FCS held a car show last weekend at the Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke, VA and had several cars on display and again this weekend the track and the cars will be out promoting the track at the Annual MDA Car Show in Roanoke, VA at the Roanoke Civic Center. To take a look at some of the photos from the recent car show check out www.franklincospeedway. *Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC is ready to go with another season and it will begin this weekend for the track staff as they roll out the red carpet for the "Rookie Camp", an annual event that introduces the rookie drivers to the ins and outs of the speedway and it's rules. Hickory Motor Speedway will crank up with racing on March 22nd with the PASS South Series and then with the weekly racing Late Model Stock Cars on March 29th. *Concord Motorsport Park in Concord, NC will get their season kicked off on March 22nd as well, but with the NASCAR Whelen Late Model Stock Car division as well as other track divisions. Concord will then be in full blaze a week later as the UARA-STARS tour rolls into town for their season opener. Check back daily for more from RACE22.com and hopefully we'll be able to let you in on some of the big breaking news we've got under our hat right now until it's available to the public!