DENVER, NC – Denver’s Matt McCall recently made history as he became the first repeat champion in the United Auto Racing Association (UARA) Series. McCall gained his first championship in the UARA Stars series in 2005.
McCall returned to the UARA Series for the first full‐time season in 2009 since his championship four years ago. In the 2009 season, McCall split the UARA season between two different cars, the #23 Denver Marine/Performancenter Chevy owned by Tom Pistone and the #51 “I Dig Pigs” Ford owned by Jerry Moody.
Matt McCall was a threat to contenders at every track, winning four of the UARA races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tri County Motor Speedway, Orange County Speedway, and Lonesome Pine Raceway.
He also set three track records at Bristol, Rockingham, and Orange County.
The season opener was the UARA 100 at Bristol Motor Speedway. McCall showed total domination as he set the pole with a track record, led almost every lap, and gained the biggest late model victory of his career.
McCall started the points lead off strong and remained points leader the entire season.
As the end of the season approached, the points separation between first and second was too close to call. The UARA points title came down to the very last race of the UARA season at Concord Motorsports Park.
At Concord Motorsports Park on Saturday November 14th, McCall qualified #51 “I Dig Pigs” Ford in the third position and started the 150 lap race with high hopes in achieving his second championship.
Matt McCall quickly made his way into the second position, but after 66 laps of racing McCall’s motor blew up in smoke.
He pulled the #51 car in the pits and emotions were heightened as the championship was put on the line. McCall sat in the pits in dismay, not being able to do anything but hope for the best.
After 30 more laps, McCall and the crew were finally able to take a breath of relief as the second place points contender also blew a motor. After an emotional race, this locked up McCall’s points lead, as he was crowned the 2009 UARA STARS Champion.
McCall continues proving that he has the talent it takes to have a career in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Corey Latham, of Race22.com, notes that Matt McCall is “the most marketable person at the track and he can simply drive the wheels off a racecar. If I was a NASCAR Cup or Nationwide owner, he would be in a car for sure.”
As McCall continues his efforts to secure sponsorship and move to the next level, this championship certainly will serve as a testament to his talent and knowledge as one of the most exciting premier late model stock car drivers.
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