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Bassett Finds Groove, Takes His First Career UARA Win at Tri-County
Release Prepared by: RACE22.com
Photos Provided by: RACE22.com
Winston-Salem, NC(August 4, 2011) -- Coming into the 2011 season, many eyes were fixed upon Ronnie Bassett, Jr. as he moved from his family owned team to the most succesful team in the UARA-STARS Series from last year.
Out of the gate, the young driver proved that he was more than capable of getting the job done behind the wheel of the Fat Head Racing Chevrolet that picked up five wins in 2010. Bassett qualified third in the season opening race at Hickory Motor Speedway and backed that run up with a fourth place finish. The race that followed proved to be an achilles heel for he and his Nick Hutchins led, FHR entry, but that prompted team owner, Jamie Yelton to make some changes for the third race of the season.
As the UARA-STARS Series headed to Anderson Motor Speedway for their first stop in South Carolina this season, Bassett was on his game and his car was setup and ready to run up front. He put his car on the pole for the first time in 2011 and the second time in his career and when the green flag dropped it was all about him up front. Bassett dominated the race and found victory lane for the first time in his career, but his celebration was short lived.
Bassett was disqualified from the event for an engine infraction, an issue that had no performance advantage, but cost him his first "official" win. Bassett and his team accepted the penalty and moved forward as they knew that despite the disqualification that they could run like that every week. The two races that followed saw Bassett run ninth and third and as the series headed to Tri-County Motor Speedway for the eighth of 16 races this season, there was confidence surrounding the team.
The Fat Head Racing team had through the years been strong at Tri-County with Yelton winning many races as a driver and having their development drivers run strong and even win races there in the past. Couple that with the fact that Tri-County seemed to be Bassett's crew chief, Lawson's best track and the site of his best career UARA finish and there's no doubt the team would be excited about returning there.
Bassett was fastest in practice on Thursday and backed that up on Friday night with another pole qualifying run, his second of the season. This time however, Bassett didn't dominate the race, in fact he began slipping back through the field and it looked as if it wasn't his night, but there was a strategy that he and his team were sticking to and hoping would play out in their favor.
Bassett's team set his car up to run on the bottom of the track and early on and for most of the race it looked as if the top groove was the place to be as many cars passed Bassett by, but as the laps clicked off and the race was drawing to a conclusion, it was Bassett, who was moving through the field.
"I have to admit I was worried there early on," said Bassett after the race. "I was getting passed by everyone it seemed and I really wanted to bail out on our original plan of running the bottom. All those guys were flying around the top, but I listed to Jamie(Yelton) and it paid off, he was right."
Yelton, had assured Bassett before the race that if he was able to run on the bottom, he would be the car to beat and as the race was headed for the checkered flag, Bassett took the lead late and held off a strong pack of hard chargers through two late restarts to win. Bassett was elated to finally get to victory lane and this time he hoped that technical inspection went a little better for he and his team.
"I was really excited to get to victory lane," continued Bassett. "However, I remembered Anderson and we had to hold our breath until inspection was completed. The UARA does a great job of trying to keep the series on a level playing field and make sure everyone is doing things right and I'm just glad we had our ducks in a row this time."
For Bassett, this win was huge as he not only snapped his winless streak in a Late Model Stock Car, but drove an incredible race as he started up front, faded a little and then rallied late to pick up the win. It was exactly the way a young driver should win his first race, learning to listen to his team, sticking to a plan and coming home with the trophy.
"This is what we've been working for," concluded Bassett. "It's exactly what we needed to gain confidence heading into the second half of the season. We're heading back to some of the tracks now that we've already raced at and that will hopefully show that we learned something the first time around and we'll be better."
Bassett now heads back to the site of his worst on-track performance of the season at Kingsport Speedway in Kingsport, TN. That was the site of the series second race of the season and the race that prompted a crew chief change following a dismal performance and a 12th place finish. Bassett knows that Kingsport hasn't exactly been one of his best tracks, but he's hoping that this time will turn out better.
"Kingsport hasn't been one of our best tracks for sure, but I'm confident that this time Chris(Lawson) will have the car right and we'll be able to contend for the win."
Bassett will be in action at Kingsport Speedway along with the rest of the UARA-STARS Series drivers on Saturday, August 13th for a 150-lap race.
Bassett is supported by K-Guard Gutter Systems, Bassett Gutters and More, Highway 150 Business Center, Marlowe Racing Chassis, Fat Head Racing and Circle Racing Wheels. For more information on Ronnie Bassett, Jr. visit his website at www.ronniebassettjr.com or contact RACE22 Driver Management at 276-613-4208.
