10 UARA-STARS Drivers Who Became NASCAR Stars

NASCAR Cup Series drivers Matt DiBenedetto, Bubba Wallace, Corey LaJoie, Brennan Poole, among others, share something in common: experience racing in the UARA-STARS late model stock car touring series. The tour operated from 2002 to 2013, running at tracks in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. With a professional, yet nurturing environment, UARA-STARS helped prepare these young, talented individuals for the big leagues.

“We were family-oriented,” said UARA-STARS president, Kerry Bodenhamer. “[We] treated the competitors with respect and we got respect. [We] took time to talk with the teams and help any way we could.”

UARA-STARS series photographer Drew Hierwarter dug into his archives to produce this top 10 of UARA drivers currently in NASCAR.

10. Kaz Grala

21, Boston, Mass.
One NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series win

Kaz Grala racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Kaz Grala won his first UARA-STARS race when he was 14 years old at Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, N.C.

Currently:
NASCAR Xfinity Series — No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (part-time)

9. Chad Finchum

25, Knoxville, Tenn.
74 NASCAR Xfinity Series Starts, 1 NASCAR Cup Series start

Chad Finchum racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Chad Finchum steers his family-owned ride around Newport (Tenn.) Speedway in 2012.

Currently:
NASCAR Xfinity Series — No. 13 MBM Motorsports Chevrolet (part-time)

8. Ben Rhodes

23, Louisville, Ky.
Two NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series wins

Ben Rhodes racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Ben Rhodes raced for Marcos Ambrose Motorsports (2012) and Turner Scott Motorsports (2013).

Currently:
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series — No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford (full-time)

7. Brandon Jones

23, Atlanta, Ga.
Two NASCAR Xfinity Series wins

Brandon Jones racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Brandon Jones raced for Eddie Sharp Racing (2012) and then Turner Scott Motorsports (2013).

Currently:
NASCAR Xfinity Series — No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (full-time)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series — No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota (part-time)

6. Matt McCall

38, Denver, N.C.
1 NASCAR Cup Series win (as a crew chief, with Kurt Busch)

Matt McCall racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Two-time UARA-STARS champion (2005 & 2009) Matt McCall celebrates after a 2009 victory at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (crew chief)

5. Brennan Poole

29, The Woodlands, Texas
8 top-fives, 36 top-10s in the NASCAR Xfinity Series
2020 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Contender

Brennan Poole racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Brennan Poole won six features en route to the 2011 UARA-STARS championship.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 15 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet (full-time)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series — No. 30 On Point Motorsports Toyota (part-time)

4. Corey LaJoie

28, Concord, N.C.
Three top-10s in the NASCAR Cup Series

Corey LaJoie racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Corey LaJoie (34) visited victory lane at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway in 2012.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 32 Go Fas Racing Ford (full-time)

3. Bubba Wallace

26, Mobile, Ala.
Six wins in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

Bubba Wallace racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Bubba Wallace raced this ride at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Va., in 2008.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

2. Ty Dillon

28, Lewisville, N.C.
Three wins in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
One win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

Ty Dillon racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Ty Dillon finished runner-up in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series points championship the year he ran the UARA-STARS event at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway in 2013.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 13 Germain Racing Chevrolet

1. Matt DiBenedetto

28, Grass Valley, Calif.
Four top-fives, 12 top-10s in the NASCAR Cup Series

Matt DiBenedetto racing in the UARA-STARS series. — **Back Then:** Matt DiBenedetto won at Bristol Motor Speedway when he was 16 years old.

Currently:
NASCAR Cup Series — No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Contributor Drew Hierwarter served as UARA-STARS series photographer part-time, from 2008 to 2011, and full-time, from 2012 to 2013.

J.A. Ackley contributed to the reporting of this story.

Drew Hierwarter

The Outside Groove contributor has covered motorsports since the 1983 Winston Western 500 at California’s Riverside International Raceway, when Bill Elliott won his first NASCAR Cup Series race. Hierwarter’s résumé includes stints photographing the ARCA Menards Series West; Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, Calif.; Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway; NASCAR Southwest Series; and UARA-STARS.