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Cory LaJoie Goes Three-for-Three at Rockingham Speedway
Cory LaJoie Goes Three-for-Three at Rockingham Speedway
Rockingham, NC (4/15/12) –With less than ten laps to go Cory LaJoie charges leaders Travis Swaim and Clay Rogers for the lead and wins the North Carolina Education Lottery 75 at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 14th.
The last three events that LaJoie has run with the UARA at Rockingham, he has won. The most recent win of the two prior to Saturday, was last November during the series’ season finale. During that race, LaJoie passed Paddy Rodenbeck with only a couple laps to go. It’s safe to say that LaJoie is known for coming through the field to grab the win at the end.
The current points leader, Ronnie Bassett Jr., won the Holley Performer Award for working his way from a 27thstarting position to finishing second. During the qualifying session, Bassett Jr. spun coming out of turn four of his first lap and barely missed the inside barrels. Luckily there was no physical damage to his car and Bassett Jr. started at the rear. Once the green flag dropped, it seemed to be smooth sailing for Bassett Jr.
The Sunoco Pole winner, Travis Swaim, set a new UARA record at Rockingham with a lap of 24.564 seconds shattering the previous record set by Paddy Rodenbeck of 24.967 in the previous November race fort the UARA at Rockingham. Not only did Swaim set a record beating time, eight other drivers surpassed that record. The field is set and it's going to be fast.
When flagman Danny Willard let the green fly it was Clay Rogers who grabbed the lead early in the race. Swaim challenged back and regained the lead only a few laps later. The two drives maintained the top two positions for the majority of the race. With Swaim in the lead caution one flew on lap 21 as the car of Jimmy Simmons spun coming down in turn two. The field took the green again and the battle was on with action all thru the field. Things got pretty hot for Andy Mercer on lap 54 as his motor let loose with a blaze of fire under it and the second caution of the race would be displayed. Mercer said his foot got pretty hot but was out of the car and doing fine.
Ten laps are remaing on the board with Swaim in the lead, Rogers takes the point on lap 66 but got loose coming off of turn four on lap70 and slid down the front stretch. Blending back into the field after the spin, Rogers became the misfortune of Brandon Jones’ tight race car on the backstretch. The two made contact causing a ripple effect that sent William Gallaher and Randy Benson hard into to the wall near the third turn.
This third and final caution brings the field down to a green white checker and Swaim knows it is going to be tough and a restart would not be his favorite thing of the day at this point. "We found out during qualifying we didn't have a clutch and that obviously cost us at the end of the race," Swaim said. "That's why we tried to stay out front all day."
The flag files and Corey LaJoie,who just happens to be at the right place at the right time makes his move and will lead the final two circuits of the race and capture the checker. Swaim slid back to third behind Bassett, Jr. with Tim George Jr. and Jake Morris rounding out the final five. Tim George Jr. started fifteenth and played it low key while other drivers fell back.
"I knew I had to give Travis a little because I couldn't jump him on the restart," LaJoie said. "He had a good jump, but he grabbed fourth gear and his clutch slipped. That gave me the space I needed. I don't even know what happened behind me. I was just digging for all I was worth those last 2 laps."
Tim George Jr. had double duty this weekend as he ran in Saturday’s UARA 75 and will be competing in the NASCAR Camping World race. Jake Morris finished the best out of all the rookies, giving him the title Xtreme Trophies and More Rookie of the Race.
Three drivers fell victim to problems during Fridays practice and failed to qualify. Lee Pullium looking to make his first UARA event fell victim to engine troubles, Brad Cox had transmission woes and young Quinn Fowler fell victim to the speedway with a spin during practice and contact with the backstretch wall. Fowler iced his knee down but was good after this but his car wasn't quite as lucky and suffered quite a bit of damage.
Unofficial Finish of the North Carolina Education Lottery 75
1. Corey LaJoie
2. Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
3. Travis Swaim
4. Tim George, Jr.
5. Jake Morris
6. Scott Bishop
7. Jesse Little
8. Dillon Bassett
9. Tyler Laing
10. Paddy Rodenbeck
11. Josh Wright
12. Camden Murphy
13. Clay Rogers
14. Brandon Jones
15. Randy Benson
16. William Gallaher
17. Scott Turlington
18. Andy Mercer
19. Ben Rhodes
20. Sean Rayhall
21. Sammy Jasper
22. Enrique Contreras
23. Cory Joyce
24. Devin Jones
25. Joey Herques
26. Jimmy Simmons
27. Allen Carter
The next stop for the STARS will be May 4that Kingsport Motor Speedway.
For more information on the UARA-STARS, visit them online at www.uara-stars.comor call (828) 692-3833. Fans are also encouraged to “like” them on Facebook under the United Auto Racing Association and follow them on Twitter @uarastars.