behind them. As they sort themselves out, cars are nearly 3-wide entering turn 3 and Mackey and Truex make hard contact ending both drivers nights. The red flag would be displayed, and as Truex was fuming in the pits, McReynolds saw his 10 car length lead erased.

Wild Finish

We get the green with 10 to go and business really picks up. McReynolds is driving like a veteran, and gets away from the field. Behind him Jamie Yelton has drove his way up into the top 5 and Alex Yontz is coming hard. With 4 to go Yontz, Grissom and LaJoie make contact off turn 4, go 3 wide, and Yontz goes from 9th to 6th. Caudill is all over his Jr. Motorsports teammate for 3rd, but can't make the pass. Up front it's all McReynolds, and the rookie gets his first UARA win followed by Wallace, Boswell, Caudill and Yelton.

Can It Get any Better?

Two weeks ago at ACE Speedway, the UARA put on a race that no one will forget. Franklin County wasn't 3 wide at the line, but the action through the field was amazing and also a show that won't be forgot. Brandon McReynolds and Darrell Wallace showed why they are the future of racing, and the field as a whole drove hard and smart, and showed why they are some of the best drivers in Late-Models that there is. Tri-County is coming, you have been warned, better not miss it.

Unifirst 150 Finish at Franklin County Speedway
1. Brandon McReynolds
2. Darrell Wallace, Jr.
3. Richard Boswell, II
4. Jamey Caudill
5. Jamey Yelton
6. Alex Yontz
7. Corey LaJoie
8. Kyle Grissom
9. Scott Andrews, Jr.
10. Dillon Smith
11. Roger Lee Newton
12. Clay Greenfield
13. Justin Boston
14. Scott Turlington
15. Thomas Hartensveld
16. Jake Crum
17. Curtis Truex, Jr.
18. B.J. Mackey
19. Andrew Carlsen
20. Rodney Cook
21. Garrett Campbell
22. Paddy Rodenbeck
23. Kyle Moon
DNQ Joe Pellegrino

Franklin County Speedway, nestled in the Virginia mountains, is know as one of the toughest tracks in America. All the greats have raced here, Harry Gant, Jimmy Hensley, Paul Radford, and even the great Ritchie Evans once said, "If you can win here, you can win anywhere". As tough as the bullring is, the rookies on the 2008 UARA tour were sure to have a tough time, and the veterans would prosper. But it definitely was the other way around Saturday night, as two rookies put on a show, veterans got together, and once again a dominate car had problems late. All this action was capped off by the first win ever for 17 year-old Brandon McReynolds, in only his 11th Late-Model start ever. And did he put on a show getting there.

This Place Is Different

Although the UARA visited the 3/8's mile track last season, many drivers had never been there and were at a loss for words. Even veteran Jamey Caudill was a rookie at the track, along with Garrett Campbell, Jamie Yelton, Richard Boswell II and Curtis Truex Jr. All had never been there in their life. Rookie Darrel Wallace Jr. Had bee racing here sporadically through the year, picking up his first Late-Model win of his

career earlier this season. McReynolds had never been there, but was able to test at the track in the weeks leading up to the event, and it paid big dividends when it came down to time to go. All drivers were agreeing though, it was bumpy, tight, and extremely fast.

It Could Be My Night

Throughout the two practice sessions, some drivers were very optimistic about there chance looking at the practice speeds. Darrell Wallace Jr. and Alex Yontz led the two sessions, but other drivers consistently in the top 10 were Clay Greenfield, Jamey Caudill, Garrett Campbell, Roger Lee Newton, Jamie Yelton and McReynolds. Drivers that were not too happy

included Richard Boswell II, Kyle Grissom, Scott Andrews Jr and Thomas Hartensveld. As always noted though, practice doesn't win you a nice trophy.

Picking Up Where He Left Off

Alex Yontz is always a threat anytime he is at a track, but he seems to have Franklin County down pat. Last year he was fast all day, and was going for the win until a late race incident with leader Ross Furr spoiled his plans. Once again, Alex was on his game. 7th in the first practice, fastest in final practice, and smoking the field beating last years qualifying mark by nearly two tenths to pick up the Sunoco Pole award. The rookies weren't far behind, with Wallace Jr. 2nd and McReynolds rolling off 3rd. The rest of the top 10 were Caudill in 4th, Boswell shaking off

practice for 5th, rookies Campbell and Corey LaJoie 6th and 7th, point leader Jake Crum 8th, and Kyle Grissom and Roger Lee Newton rounding out the top ten.

Let The Madness Begin

"Fast Franklin County Speedway" is the "tagline" for the speedway. And we knew it would fit, we just didn't know who would survive it. As the green waved Yontz jumps to the front, but the racing would only last a half a lap. As the cars enter turn 3, the rear of the field wipes out in going into the corner, causing the biggest melee of the UARA season. OK, here we go, involved were, Rodney Cook, Scott Turlington, B.J. Mackey, Kyle Moon, Thomas Hartensveld, Andrew Carlsen, Paddy Rodenbeck , Clay Greenfield, my personal car, a wrecker....well not really those last 2 but it was big. But with all the

cars involved, only Rodenbeck and Moon were unable to continue. Carlsen did have extensive damage along with cook, but both were able to continue after making numerous pit stops.

Making A Statement

It only took a few laps of green to realize that Yontz was the one to beat on this night. Although Wallace would pressure after some early cautions, once some green flag laps got

down Yontz would check out. Behind him, looking from the grandstands, it seemed that many cars were trying to wreck every lap. Jake Crum and Corey LaJoie are battling hard, and Jamie Yelton is visibly in trouble as cars are beating him around like a ping-pong ball. On lap 42 sixth place running Garrett Campbell gets spun by the lapped car of Turlington, and Roger Lee Newton spins to avoid. all cars escaped damage, but it would be the beginning of the end of Campbell's night, and just the break that

Yelton needed for a much needed adjustment. And it would help Yelton greatly.

The start Of The "Pestering"

After the Campbell/Turlington caution, McReynolds was now up on the back of Wallace for 2nd. and this is where the battle of the night begins, for the next 45 laps McReynolds and Wallace put on a show, with the two rookies showing aggression, patience, and pure driving skill all at the same time. Wallace nearly is looking into the infield almost every lap, but

McReynolds lets him gather it back up. It seemed that McReynolds could tell where the the point of no return was in spinning Wallace, and never crossed it, but took it to the very edge. Meanwhile, Yontz is way gone, by nearly 3 seconds when 2 veterans have a "confrontation" on the track.

I Was Here First

Rodney Cook made his 2nd consecutive start in the UARA series, and was looking for a good run since he has been running regularly at Franklin County, already claiming 6 wins this season. He was involved in the first lap wreck, which out him in the pack, and on lap 59 his night fell apart. Another veteran trying to come up from the back, B.J. Mackey, dives deep under Cook entering turn 1 causing the #14 to whip around and make slight contact with the outside wall. Under caution cook shows Mackey how

happy he is rubbing hard into the left front fender on the #2 machine. Also in the wreck was Garrett Campbell once more, and this time he parks it saying he would like to have something left to drive at Tri-County speedway in 2 weeks. Cook would make numerous pit stops under caution but would retire at the halfway mark with a hole in the radiator.

Halfway (lap75)
1.Yontz 2.Wallace 3.McReynolds 4.Caudill 5.Boswell 6.Lajoie 7.Grissom 8.Greenfield 9.Truex Jr. 10.Newton

Finally! And He Can't Buy A Break

As there is action all over the track, all eyes are still on 2nd and 3rd as McReynolds is relentless on the back bumper of Wallace. He can get under him to the door some laps, but just can't seem to finish the deal. Well, the deal was done

on lap 86 as McReynolds makes contact one final time and Wallace drifts up the track, giving the #28 the room he needs to advance to 2nd. But he has one problem still, Yontz is long gone. But as it has already happened twice this year, Yontz' luck runs out. Just before the 100 lap mark the #55 slows and comes to a halt in turn 1, a flat right front. By far the dominate car, and once again he's got to fight from the back with a handful of laps to go.

Slam! Bam!

Were getting down to the finish now, and everybody is going as hard as possible. Clay Greenfield has had terrible luck this year, and was running comfortably in the top ten, but with ten laps to go the car of Truex tries to "slam-pass" the #84 machine off turn 2. The cars nearly come to a stop, and bunches up the field