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Stage Set for Ferocious All-Star Battle at Hickory

Columbia, SC (Mar 29, 2001) – An All-Hickory top five finish Sunday at Peach State Speedway is setting the stage for an interesting scenario for Round Two of the ARA Late Model Stock All-Star Series in their visit to the historic speedway.

Westley Huffman was four inches better than late race challenger Keith Bumgarner in the season’s 200 lap opener, but with a 125 lap, no break event on the docket, and a distinct change in the racing venue from a wide open half mile to a tight .363-mile bullring, this Saturday’s event is anybody’s for the taking. Anybody from Hickory, that is.

Hickory Motor Speedway has earned its reputation through fifty years of some of the most competitive short track racing in the country. It holds the record for hosting the most Grand National events, and boasts a champions board that reads like a NASCAR who’s who. Jarretts, Pettys, Earnhardts, Houstons, Gant, Shepherd, and countless other legendary racing names have all paid their dues at the Grand Dame of short tracks. It’s no wonder that those young gladiators with radiators who dominated in Peach State on Sunday call Hickory home.

Hickory has quickly established itself as the flagship speedway for the All-Star series. With the tradition, history and mystique it possesses in the racing world in general, there’s a certain intimidation factor in place for drivers competing in the series. There’s very little room for error when tackling the track. With the level of competition that is expected this weekend, that room for error diminishes exponentially.

Joining Huffman and Bumgarner up front Sunday were Scott Kilby, who grabbed the points lead through his inverting efforts, Kenny West and Shane Huffman. Of the five, the only driver who has never posted a win at Hickory is Sunday’s winner Westley Huffman.

One driver who has tasted victory at Hickory on numerous occasions is defending series champion Greg Marlowe. Marlowe piloted his No. 07 to a quiet sixth place finish Sunday. Fans close to the series don’t expect Marlowe to be as low key this weekend.

Unfortunately for the rest of the field entering Saturday, the list of heavy hitters doesn’t stop there. Fourteen year-old Stephen Lite posted a solid 8th place run on Sunday and, on the heels of setting pole in last year’s Hickory season-ending Galaxy Foods Fall Brawl 250, can be counted on to present a stiff challenge. Last week’s pole sitter Randy Porter, who dominated for 150 laps before fading late, has 25 less laps this weekend to nab the checkers. Tim Weaver, who has many Hickory laps under his belt, was also impressive Sunday. If only the list ended here.

Josh Richeson and J.R. Robbs both ran impressively at Hickory in last year’s All-Stars visits and can be expected to do the same this season. Ryan Zeck, defending Lonesome Pine Raceway Late Model champion and sixteen year-old Danny O’Quinn, Jr., and former Lonesome Pine champion Stacy Vicars, who was scratched from the starting field with mechanical difficulties on Sunday, are all formidable challengers.

Enter Hickory’s local stable of drivers including Mark Setzer, who blistered the field in last week’s Weekly Racing Series opener, John Michaelowski, Jamie Yelton, Glenn Jermalowicz and “The Wild Child” Jeff Hagaman, who can be as potent as anyone on the right day, and the stage is set for a memorable night of racing ARA-style - fast, loose and competitive to the bitter end.

Gates open Saturday at 4:00 pm. Qualifying will begin at 4:00 pm. The 125 lap event will start at 7:00 pm. Following the All-Star event, the speedway will host ARA Weekly Racing Series events in the Papa John’s Pizza Pro-Cup, and the Modified Mini Stocks, plus a visit from the East Coast Flathead Ford Association, sporting vintage 1930’s race cars.

Country music artist Billy Yarborough will be making a special visit as well. Yarborough, who penned and recorded the American Racing Association theme song, will perform the National Anthem.