United Speed Contest Sanction (USCS) President/Founder Pete Walton Speaks With K&N
- 19 Nov 2009
Seven time defending Champion, Terry Gray Bartlett, Tennessee currently leads the National point standings. Uses K&N filters Sprint Car Airbox on his Championship winning car. Phil Bowden photo.
The popular 4 abreast salute to the fans: Phil Bowden photo
How and when did USCS get started?
"We were Founded in 1997 - with the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour (winged sprint cars). We are now in our 13th season for the sprint car series. Our Rislone USCS Modified Series started in '06 and it is growing by leaps and bounds as well. Our title sponsorship for the '09 season was with the Part Plus organization."
How has the year gone for you overall?
"We have been very fortunate to have only two events lost due to weather in '09. Our season finale, the $50,000 USCS Fall Nationals, is this weekend (November 13th and 14th) at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. Saturday night will be our 40th completed race night for the sprint car series. It will be our 26th and 27th USCS Modified Series events."
"Surprisingly, with the economy being what it has been in '09, it really has been a great year. Our car counts have been up in the United Sprint Car Series and the USCS Modified Series. Attendance at the events has been, in most cases, at least even with, or better than '08. During the '09 season the United Sprint Car Series has had over 150 different competitors thus far. There have been 231 different drivers to compete in the 25 USCS Modified Touring Series events."
The current Rislone USCS Modified Series points' leader, Hunter Rasdon from Jonesboro, Arkansas in action. Jimmy Jones photo.
"Additionally, the USCS Modified Series created a Weekly Racing Series for '09 that sanctioned nearly 150 USCS open wheel modified weekly events at seven tracks. So far over 300 different drivers participated in the '09 USCS Modified Weekly Racing Series. We expect that the number of tracks will expand to 10-12 in 2010, with over 200 events."
Do any particular races or drivers stick out more than others?
"It appears that seven-time National Champion; Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee, will garner his eighth title in '09. We additionally have three young drivers, ages 18-22 years old, who have been standouts this season and veteran Marshall Skinner, with three feature wins, from West Memphis, Arkansas, who comprise the top five in the standings."
"Terry Gray leads the Nationals and both regional point standings. The current Rookie-of-the-Year points leader, 18-year-old Justin Carver, from Drummonds, Tennessee, is currently second in the Nationals and Mid-South regional point standings. Carver has a rare rookie driver feature win as well. Another 18-year old rookie driver, Jon Stinson from Memphis, Tennessee, is fourth in the current standings. '08 Rookie-of-the-Year Anthony Nicholson from Bartlett, Tennessee, also has one feature win and ranks fifth in the standings."
How are K&N Sprint Car air boxes, universal filters and oil filters working for you?
"They work just great. In addition, my entire family uses K&N products on our bikes, trucks, cars, etc. We also use the servicing products like filter oil and filter cleaning solution. Everything just works terrific."
Any plans for the USCS in the future you'd care to discuss?
"The 2010 schedules are shaping up to be more aggressive than the '09 schedules. We expect to have approximately 50 United Sprint Car Series events in nine southeastern states and approximately 30 events scheduled for the USCS Modified Touring Series. In addition to the Weekly Racing Series events already mentioned above."
"Furthermore, USCS is contemplating creating a USCS Late Model Dirt Car Series. That series would have a first year schedule of 12-16 events in 2010."
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