October 15, 2013 – By Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio and Race Chaser Online – Newport, TN – Hold up, Spark Plug. This title fight isn’t over just yet.
And Garrett Campbell made sure that Dillon Bassett got that message loud and clear during Saturday’s Sunoco 150, race 11 of the 2013 UARA-STARS tour season. Bassett, who had won the last three UARA events coming into Saturday’s battle in East Tennessee, was looking to extend his win streak to four and widen his 47 point advantage over Campbell.
However, the Asheboro, North Carolina young gun had other plans.
After Sunoco polesitter and former UARA series champion Lee Tissot led the opening 15 laps of the event, Campbell decided it was time to make a statement. He powered around Tissot for the lead on Lap 16 and never looked back, dominating the final 135 laps, including a 78 lap green-flag stretch to end the event, to score his third UARA-STARS victory of the 2013 season and shave valuable points off of Dillon Bassett’s championship lead with two races currently scheduled to go in the 2013 championship campaign.
“We’re back,” an elated Campbell said following the event. “This is the proof right here. This title fight is not over, and we intend to give it everything we’ve got to the end of the season. It’s go time.”
Defending UARA champion Travis Swaim, a six-time Sunoco polesitter this season, came up a bridesmaid once again, finishing second for the fourth time this season. Points leader Bassett, former NASCAR regular Steve Wallace and Kaleb Pressley completed the top five in the running order.
The event was slowed five times by caution, including a red flag stoppage on the initial start after an accident in Turns 1 and 2 involving local driver Mark McIntosh, as well as the machine of Ed Surrett.
The UARA-STARS return to action on Saturday, October 19 at Tri-County Motor Speedway for the second event in a three-race October tripleheader for the UARA tour.
For more information on the UARA-STARS Late Model Series, visit www.uara-stars.com , follow the STARS on Twitter @uarastarsseries, on Facebook by searching United Auto Racing Association, or call 828-692-3833.
Photo Credit: Drew Hierwarter
Results: Sunoco 150 – Newport Speedway, Newport, TN
1. Garrett Campbell
2. Travis Swaim
3. Dillon Bassett
4. Steve Wallace
5. Kaleb Pressley
6. Garrett Jones
7. Kaz Grala
8. Wayne Webb
9. Lee Tissot
10. Thomas Beane
11. Taylor Coffman
12. Ed Surrett
13. Darrell Williams
14. Chandler Levan
15. Mark McIntosh
