The I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater between Chattanooga and Knoxville is ready to kick off the 2017 season with the United Crate Racing Alliance (UCRA) "SPRING-LOADED" event Saturday, March 25th.
The Crate Late Model extravaganza opens the Kyle Family facility with the first of three events planned for 2017 at the 3/8’s mile clay oval.
The $2,500 to-WIN/40-lap main event will see 24 competitors battle for nearly $10,000 in posted prize money for Round #1 of the $15,000 UCRA Championship Season.
A pair of Tennesseans have dominated the first two UCRA championships. Rusty Ballenger of nearby Seymour collected the $5,000 payday for the 2016 Title, whereas Jake Teague of Petrosscorralled the inaugural championship in 2015. The most recent UCRA winner at I-75 came last September when Cleveland, Tn., dirt track socialite Tanner Works defeated neighbor John Ownbey in a thriller of a race.
Last year’s UCRA season opener saw Riley Hickman of Ooltewah in Victory Lane, while newcomer and Young-Gun Rookie candidate 13-year-old Sam Seawright laid claim to the 2016 Season Finale at his home track in Fort Payne, Ala., this past October. Plans are for a Practice Day Saturday, March 18th, followed by a Friday night, March 24th Open Practice the night before the Season Opener.
Sportsman, B-Hobby, Thunder, Four-Cylinder, Front Wheel Drives and Dwarf Cars are all on the schedule with the UCRA March 25th. Gates are slated to open Saturday at 3 p.m. EST with the Drivers Meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Ticket Prices for the event are $15 in Grandstands and $35 in the Pits.
For more information visit www.i75raceway.com or www.UCRAracing.com. UCRA is a sanctioning body for Crate Late Model dirt racing and all rights and rules thereof are available to be adhered to on behalf of the United Crate Racing Alliance ©2017.
Drivers Well-Versed in UCRA Competition Over Past Two Seasons:
Rusty Ballenger (# 29) of Seymour, TN (2016 UCRA Champion - 2 Time Winner)
Jake Teague (# 117) of Petross, TN (2015 UCRA Champion - 2 Time Winner)
Riley Hickman (# R1) of Ooltewah, TN (Only 5 Time UCRA Winner)
John Ownbey (# J0) of Cleveland, TN (Second with Most Wins - 3 Time UCRA Winner)
Jamie Perry (# P4) of Ringgold, GA (Former 2 Time UCRA Winner)
Robert Gant (# 22) of Flat Rock, AL (2016 UCRA Runner-Up / Multi Alabama Track Champion) Ethan Hunter (# 3H) of Tiger, GA (2015 Runner-Up / Former TN Track Champion)
Heath Hindman (# 9) of Signal Mtn, TN (2016 Second Runner-Up tied)
Kenny Kizzar (# 157) of Graysville Mtn, TN (2016 Second Runner-Up tied)
Anthony White (# 2X) of Clinton, TN (Former 2 Time UCRA Winner)
Ashley Newman (# 73) of Memphis, TN (Former UCRA Winner)
Jeff Smith (# 00) of Villanow, GA (Former UCRA Winner)
Tom Maddox (# 43) of Centre, AL (Former UCRA Winner)
Kasey Hall (# 42) of Geraldine, AL (Former UCRA Winner)
Jason Welshan (# 29) of Maryville, TN (Former UCRA Winner)
Sam Seawright (# 16) of Fort Payne, AL (Former UCRA Winner)
Kyle May (# 56) of Pisgah, AL (Former UCRA Winner)
Tanner Works (# T35) of Cleveland, TN (Previous I-75 Raceway UCRA Winner)