Website Designed, Hosted & Maintained by RACE22.com
Website Designed, Hosted & Maintained by RACE22.com
UARA Power Rankings -- March 25, 2010
This year between each one of the 16 UARA-STARS Series races and a post season edition, we're going to give you the Top 10 Drivers on the tour, whether it's a part-time "power player" or a full-time guy swinging for the fences and looking to bring home UARA gold ... With the season opener at Hickory now in the books ... who's the top 10 and who from the last list isn't there anymore!
Welcome to RACE22.com ... The Home of Late Model Stock Car Racing ... RACE22.com
#10 - Roger Lee Newton(n/a)
Though, Roger Lee Newton, the "Outlaw" won't be at Kingsport Speedway this weekend to back up his great run at Hickory, there's no denying he's one of the most powerful drivers on the tour even if part time. Newton once again proved he was one of the drivers to contend with in the season opener running amongst the top ten most of the day and grabbing a top ten finish. In the meantime he also used the bumper as he's been known to move a fellow competitor out of the way, which makes him one of the most intimidating drivers on the track.
#9 - Grant McGinnis(n/a)
Who??? No, Seriously ... Who is Grant McGinnis? Grant spent several races at the tail end of last season running around the back of the pack, but this season he got things kicked off right qualifying amongst the top ten after being one of the fastest cars in practice. McGinnis didn't get the finish he wanted, but that will come with time as the young driver learns the ropes and he will given that his crew chief, former UARA winner as a driver and 2009 Bailey's 300 winning crew chief, BJ Mackey will keep this young talent pointed in the right direction.
#8 - Clint King(n/a)
When the Pre-Season Power Rankings were released, we decided not to include any of the rookies, simply because you never know what might happen. Certainly no one expected, Clint King to practice every session among the top ten and qualify in the top ten. Certainly no one could have expected him to have spent most of the race in the top five either, before getting turn around by a veteran on a restart. This kid is for real and he will be a force to be reckoned with this season in the UARA.
#7 - Scott Turlington(10th)
Scott Turlington was a name many were surprised to see on the pre-season power rankings before Hickory, but we knew that he had all the tools in the right place and his third year would be the charm. Turlington proved us right in the season opener as he ran solidly until getting slammed into the wall by another driver and ruining his day, but most know that our power rankings aren't about where you finish, but rather how you perform and just how powerful you can be on the track.
Many people might look at Brennan Poole only gaining a position from 7th in the pre-season to 6th in this power rankings list. Certainly when you consider that he's been known not run good at Hickory and he paced a couple practice sessions before qualifying 16th and racing to a fourth place finish, one could think that. However, Brennan still has less than 35 races on his resume and will compete in his 18th UARA race this weekend at Kingsport and he has a long way to go to be as powerful as the five drivers ahead of him.
#6 - Brennan Poole(7th)
#5 - Ty Dillon(n/a)
The driver making the biggest leap was Ty Dillon, who in no way was a pre-season favorite, but maybe he should have been as he was impressive. Qualifying in the top five and racing there all day before finishing third, Dillon impressed a lot of people and even had the UARA officials so taken back that they THOUGHT he was a rookie and awarded him the rookie of the race. With Dillon's experience in LMSC and races in the NASCAR East Series, he isn't a rookie in anyway, but this driver could be impressive all season when he's not away competing in the NASCAR East Series.
#4 - Coleman Pressley(4th)
Maybe Coleman Pressley should be moved to the front of this list, considering he was expected to miss one race and somehow, the schedule got changed for that one race. Maybe it's a coincidence or maybe it's just Coleman's year and his time to shine in the UARA-STARS Series, but Pressley was impressive with the new Ford crate engine at Hickory in the season opener finishing second to Shane Huffman, who won't likely run anymore races making him the inevitable points leader. Coleman could be the man to beat, but right now he's just fourth on our list of the most powerful drivers.
Jamie Yelton is another driver who won't be making the start this weekend at Kingsport Speedway, but that isn't going to keep him out of this list for now. Yelton was easily among the four fastest cars at Hickory for the season opener and many believe that had he not got caught up with lapped traffic, he would have been the one taking home the hardware at the end of the day. And, hey he's got to get some style points for that "bad" looking ride he has this season for sure!
#3 - Jamie Yelton(3rd)
Kyle Grissom was the best car at Hickory for the season opener ... anyone who would argue that point is an idiot. Grissom qualified on the pole and continued a streak of poles for Nick Hutchins to three that dates back to Brandon McReynolds winning the pole for the final two races of 2009(technically four if you count the pole for the rain out of Concord). Grissom however broke a swaybar mount and was relegated to a 17th place finish, but no doubt about it he is right now one of the top UARA racers for sure.
#2 - Kyle Grissom(5th)
Alex Yontz remains atop of our UARA Power Rankings through the first race despite the fact that he really didn't make any noise at Hickory. However, what keeps this veteran at the top of this list isn't the fact that he qualified second and finished in the top 5, it's the fact that he had that kind of results on what he admits is his worst track. Throughout the weekend you could hear him saying "I hate this place" and he still felt that way when he left, but finishing fifth was impressive for a driver who isn't very good on the 3/8mile bullring.
#1 - Alex Yontz(1st)
This week you've probably noticed that there are several drivers who made the pre-season list who aren't on the list anymore and here's the reasons why ...
Lee Tissot(9th) - The venerable veteran is certainly still a driver to watch, there's not a doubt in my mind that he and his West Racing team couldn't roll into Kingsport Speedway this weekend and take home the win, but his lack of performance at Hickory isn't the way he wanted to start and it certainly brings down the worth of his stock.
Garrett Campbell(8th) - Despite racing to a top ten finish, Garrett Campbell showed no signs of what we thought maybe a huge change for him this season as teammate to Alex Yontz. Garrett certainly has shown signs of talent in the past, but he seems to have a black cloud hanging over him that keeps him from qualifying and finishing where he's deserving of being. This weekend also wouldn't seem like a good place for a turn around after his performance at Kingsport last fall.
Lucas Ransone(6th) - After a sucessful run in the USARacing Pro Cup Series in 2009 and a victory in the season ending big Late Model Stock Car race at Myrtle Beach last November, Lucas Ransone seemed posied to have a big time return to full time UARA-STARS Series racing. Lucas however never showed the promise at Hickory and going to Kingsport, a track he's never raced on he doesn't look like a title contender at this point in the season.
Frank Deiny(2nd) - Frank Deiny, Jr. had to be the most disappointed driver when he left Hickory Motor Speedway after practice and qualifying poorly and being the first driver out of the race after an early race accident. Deiny has incredible credentials in Late Model Stock Car racing winning races and championships all over, but the UARA-STARS Series tour is different and Deiny found that out first hand. Deiny certainly could run with big dogs, but he hasn't proved it yet and he could be 'one and done' on the tour after his poor performance, though he says he'll return soon and be much better ... we'll have to wait and see.
