Local favorite, Andy Loden came out on top in last years race, but with even more of the regions best shoes strapping in for this weekends 177-lap race it could be the greatest race in Hickory's already rich history. Former track champions, Dennis Setzer, Shane Huffman, Matt McCall and Loden will be among the starting field, but so will the guy that this year has dominated the season winning the last ten straight of only eleven races this season, Andy Mercer.

Here we're going to take a look inside the storylines surrounding this huge mid-season event and let you in on some of the drivers that will be serious challengers come Saturday night in Hickory.

THE NEXT ONE IS #11

At this point in the 2009 season at Hickory Motor Speedway, Andy Mercer seems to have things under control and is on track right to potentially celebrate the most victories of any recent past champion. Currently Mercer and his Mercer Racing team led by his brother and owner of Mercer Race Car Engineering, David, have already won the last ten straight on the 3/8 mile short track, but this race is the longest of the season so far and could challenge Mercer the most.

Mercer told me in a recent phone conversation that while this is a long race and will certainly test everyone's ability to conserve tires he is confident in his teams ability to get the setup right for the longer race. Mercer will certainly be a strong contender come race time and with his recent success, he's certainly got to be one of the favorites. Mercer will however have his hands full with all the former track champions and top drivers who will be making rare appearances on "America's Most Famous Short Track".

HANDLING THE HARDWARE

Certainly one of the storylines surrounding this big summer race is the fact that so many of the former track champions will be there to race against todays stars in Hickory, NC. One of those guys is NASCAR Camping World and Nationwide Series driver, Dennis Setzer, whose son has seen some success on the tight track this season.

His son, Brandon Setzer seems to be a 'chip off the old block' as he's already tasted victory in the tracks Late Model Truck division, but the proud father is hoping his return to the track that helped him make a name for himself will be as good to him as it has his son this season. Setzer will be piloting the Romeo Guest Construction Ford Fusion powered by Long Brothers Racing and driving for this team has been very successful for the veteran driver.

Setzer driving for the Long's is a previous winner of the Bailey's 300 at Martinsville Speedway, the biggest race in all of Late Model Stock Car racing and with his past success on Hickory being great, there's no doubt he's going to be a contender.

Along with Setzer the other former champions include current NASCAR Nationwide Series interim crew chief, Shane Huffman who certainly knows how to handle the hardware in victory lane at Hickory Motor Speedway. Huffman has had many wins on his way to becoming a household name driving for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s NASCAR Nationwide Series team before joining Rusty Wallace Inc. as car chief for Brendan Gaughan.

Another guy who can 'handle the hardware' is 2004 Track Champion, 2005 UARA-STARS Series Champion, former Robert Yates Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and current points leader on the UARA-STARS Series tour, Matt McCall. McCall finished third in the most recent UARA-STARS Series race held on the 3/8 mile bullring just two weeks ago, but with a different rules package for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, which this race is sanctioned by, it could throw the veteran a curve.

The last of our former track champions, who is the defending track champion and defending winner of this race, Andy Loden really needs to have a strong run in this race to wash away what has been a terrible season. Loden joined the UARA-STARS Series tour this season coming off of three consecutive track championships and countless wins at Hickory, but the tour hasn't been a lot of fun for he and his team.

Loden will be looking for his first win since last fall at Hickory Motor Speedway and with his success not only in this race last year, but at this track over the last few seasons this guy has to be at the top of any list concerning any race he competes in at Hickory.

NASCAR AFFILIATION

Former champions Setzer, Huffman and McCall have been among the select few to make it into the top three NASCAR sanctioned series from Hickory Motor Speedway, but these guys aren't the only ones with NASCAR ties expected to compete in the Dwight Huffman Memorial.

Steven Wallace, the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Rusty Wallace and current NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner, is expecting to make the trip home to North Carolina from Friday nights NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Chicago to compete with today's Late Model Stock Car stars. Wallace was a former competitor on the 3/8 mile track and also has a couple of wins behind the wheel of a LMSC in the UARA-STARS Series.

Wallace is expected to be a top contender as well, but he's not the only NASCAR affiliated driver expected to compete as is NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner, Rob Fuller. Fuller is a co-owner of R3 Motorsports and is a previous winner in the Late Models at Hickory, so he's bound to mix it up with this strong field.

Also former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Steve Grissom's son, Kyle, who is current contender on the UARA-STARS Series tour will be back in action on the 3/8 mile track. Grissom has seen his share of success at Hickory and most recently took home the victory in the Fall Brawl, the season ending big race in October of every year.

NASCAR Nationwide Series competitor, Marc Davis, who started his own team this season after spending several years driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and then the Camping World East Series is also on the entry list. Davis is also a former winner at Hickory Motor Speedway in the Limited Late Model and Late Model Stock Car divisions.

DEVELOPMENT DRIVERS

Among the field of potential contenders are a couple of ARCA Development drivers as well as a couple of NASCAR Development drivers and kids who could be future names in NASCAR's top levels. Seattle, WA driver, Jordan McGregor, who recently signed with Ford Racing in an ARCA Development deal is among the young stars who will compete in Saturday nights race.

Also Venturini Motorsports Development driver and 2008 UARA-STARS Series Champion, Jake Crum will be making his first appearance of the season at Hickory Motor Speedway in his family owned Late Model Stock Car entry. Crum in his last appearance at Hickory was in a torrid battle for the lead of a UARA-STARS race with Joe Gibbs Racing Development Driver, Matt DiBenedetto, but came up short in the end and finished second.

Another young driver with a development deal is current UARA-STARS Series competitor, Coleman Pressley, who is affiliated with JTG Racing, the team that fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with Marcos Ambrose at the wheel. Pressley is also the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Robert Pressley and grandson of regional Late Model racing legend, Bob Pressley.

The development drivers just keep on coming as Richard Childress Racing is anticipating entering two young stars in the 177-lap race. The first is Childress' grandson, Ty Dillon, who has made a name for himself racing Crate Late Models on dirt mostly in the FASTRAK Racing Series. Dillon has made a couple starts this season at Hickory and could be a contender for a top ten position, but his teammate, Ryan Gifford may be an even greater threat for the win.

Gifford dominated in the early laps last weekend in the Firecracker 150 at nearby Tri-County Motor Speedway, but used his equipment up too early in the race. However, Gifford said following the race that he had learned from that mistake and was looking forward to the Dwight Huffman Memorial and certainly if he can have as good of a car this week as he did last, he might be in the thick of things.

LOOKING TO REBOUND

Jesse LeFevers started off the 2009 season with a win in the season opening race at Hickory, but after being disqualified at Tri-County Motor Speedway from an early season victory and destroying his primary car in practice at Hickory his season fell apart. LeFevers now is looking for a rebound and it's going to take a complete 180 for the driver to get his once promising season back on track.

At the early part of the 2009 season, LeFevers was hailed as being one of the 'rising young guns', but since things went sour a couple months back we haven't heard anything about this young talent. LeFevers and his team have certainly been working hard putting in long hours at the shop and making what they think will be the right adjustments at the track, but so far nothing has been working.

This budding superstar has surely put a lot of effort into the Dwight Huffman Memorial as has every competitor seeking to compete in this event, but for him to find himself back in victory lane will take a complete turnaround. We'll wait and see what he and his team will be able to put together for this huge mid-season, summer classic.

UNKNOWN MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF

Chris Lawson .... wait, I know you're saying to yourself 'who?', but this young driver has seemingly come out of nowhere this season to be a contender. Lawson has only made a handful of starts this season three of which came in the UARA-STARS Series, where he finished in the top ten twice, but he also finished second to Mercer almost a month ago at Hickory.

Lawson, who is 24-years old and originally from Ohio has burst onto the Late Model racing scene this season and with some impressive finishes as mentioned above in the UARA-STARS Series as well as a second to Mercer in one of his 10 wins also finished second at Tri-County Motor Speedway in one race after starting last. Impressive sums his performance up simply and no one would overlook him heading into this big race and we've certainly marked him as a contender.

Lawson, who works for RedBull Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams is an independent at this level and is seeking to prove himself against what many people consider the toughest competition in racing anywhere at any level. Number 51 could be number 1 by the end of the biggest race of the summer ... don't count him out.

REGULARS LOOKING TO DEFEND HOME TURF

While there was a time when many of the drivers we've mentioned above have been able to consider Hickory Motor Speedway their home track, there are a host of drivers who compete there on a regular basis and these guys will be looking to defend at home. Home field advantage in the sport of Football is huge and in racing many people look at it the same way and for guys like Mercer, the current points leader and winner of ten in a row, home turf has to be an advantage.

Mercer, Dexter Canipe, Jr., David Wilson, Cole Miktuk, Ashley Huffman, James Goff, Neil Meredith, LeFevers, the Wimbish brothers(Josh and Grant) as well as a handful of other weekly competitors will not only be chasing after the biggest winners check of the season, but also will be hoping to succesfully defend their home turf. Canipe is still seeking his first victory of the season at Hickory despite the fact that he's won four already this season at Tri-County Motor Speedway.

It won't be easy for the son of a former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion, Dexter, Sr. as he'll be behind the wheel of a brand new car after destroying his primary car in a huge crash in the most recent race at Hickory. Wilson is also a three-time winner this season at Tri-County Motor Speedway, but is also winless on the 3/8 mile bullring. This is certainly a golden opportunity for both of these drivers as well as all the other regulars at Hickory.

A LATE MODEL LEGEND RETURNS

The name Greg Marlowe says a lot to fans of Late Model Stock Car racing as most of us remember his #07 car dominating all of the big races throughout the region in the late 1980's and throughout the 1990's, but since semi-retiring he's still been around the sport. Marlowe has been creating a name for himself all over again as the veteran Late Model Stock Car racing legend bought the remains of Childress Race Cars and became a chassis builder with Marlowe Racing Chassis.

Marlowe, like any driver has been itching to get back behind the wheel of a car and after taking a few laps behind the wheel of one of his chassis' at North Wilkesboro Speedway in a test session, the veteran is coming out of retirement for a 'few starts'. While Marlowe will certainly be seeking to win this race and any other he competes in he will mostly be doing research and development for his chassis company and with him being able to feel the difference when he makes suspension changes you have to assume that his chassis will only get better.

Marlowe is not on the entry list, but is expecting to make the starting grid for the Dwight Huffman Memorial come Saturday night, July 11th.

THE BIGGEST RACE OF ALL TIME AT HMS???

Some have specualted that this may be the biggest Late Model Stock Car race ever at Hickory Motor Speedway and certainly the huge purse being offered will make it one of the biggest races ever. The names expected to compete in the race certainly give the appearance of one of the biggest races ever on the Hickory track.

Nearly 40 entries appear on the Dwight Huffman Memorial website and over 40 cars are expected as there are some guys we've mentioned above not even on the list. Above we've mentioned many of the top drivers who will compete in this race, but there a couple more guys who don't fall into any of the above categories, but will certainly be among the leaders.

Jamie Yelton, better known simply as the "Forest City Bad Boy" is on the entry list and is looking to make a strong return to racing after spending most of the season mentoring young Brennan Poole, who is a rookie on the UARA-STARS Series tour this season. Yelton has already made an appearance or two at Hickory this season preparing for this race, but hadn't been able to get his car dialed in the way he would have liked.

Yelton and his team, the "Forest City Bad Boys" will be out in full force for this huge mid-season race, but their young driver, Brennan Poole will not compete in this race as he will be at Ace Speedway on Friday night. He'll be there preparing for the upcoming UARA-STARS Series race on the 4/10 mile track on August 7th. Poole was considered to be a huge threat to win this race after his performance in the last NASCAR Weekly show where he led most of the race before falling back due to a broken shifter knob.

With all the talented drivers from today and the past this has certainly shaped into the biggest race in North Carolina and could be the marquee Summer event for Late Model Stock Car racing on the east coast.