Brandon Ward captures first UARA STARS win in
SUNOCO Fuels 150 at Orange Co Speedway
Rougemont,
NC (May 20) – Winston Salem, NC driver Brandon Ward claimed
his first UARA STARS Late Model Stock Touring Series win
Saturday night at Orange Co Speedway in the SUNOCO Fuels
150. Ward also claimed his first SUNOCO Pole Award out
qualifying twenty seven other racers with a 14.529, bumping
Ryan Gray and Jamie Yelton.
Ward coming off a disappointing finish last week at Greenville Pickens Speedway got things headed in the right direction by setting the fastest time. It would be Gray driving the Mitch West Racing / Mike Ball Trucking / Chevy Monte Carlo that would jump out into the lead.
The field made only one lap when Robby Johns came to a stop in turn four brining out the first of eight cautions. When the field returned to green, Gray jumped back out front with Ward and Jamie Yelton in tow. Yelton made contact with Ward on lap eight but both continued on with Yelton taking second. Yelton would close in on Gray and take the led on lap thirteen.
Alex Yontz was the man on the move, Yontz losing an engine just minutes before the final practice session was forced to go to his back up car. The team scrambled to get the back up ready, but was unable to get through tech on time and was allowed one lap for qualifying. Starting nineteenth, Yontz steadily climbed his way through the field to finish a strong third place and close in on Kyle Grissom for the 2006 Points Chase. “We had the car to beat today, we were turning times faster than the pole time with old tires on and hate we lost the motor. I’m just proud of these guys getting the back up ready and we had a great finish tonight.” commented Yontz. Yontz’s run earned him the Holley Performance Performer of the race and the UARA Hard Charger gaining sixteen spots.
Yelton continued to lead until lap ninety seven when he lost an engine going down the back straight, turning the lead back over to Gray. Grissom making a charge to the front, climbed his way up to third when he lost an engine ending his night finishing a disappointing nineteenth.
Gray would hold onto the lead until lap one hundred thirteen, Ward would make the pass in his Cline's Body Shop / Rayco Safety, Inc / Lakeland Industries / Miller Welding / The Sqwincher Corp. / Old Town Jewelry & Pawn Chevy Monte Carlo and go on to claim his first UARA STARS win.
UARA STARS returns to action this Saturday May 27th at Lanier National Speedway. For more information please contact UARA STARS at 828-692-3833. www.uara-stars.com and www.tracksidetalk.com