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MARTIN TRYING TO GET ASPHALT PROGRAM ON TRACK TO KEEP USCS WINNING STREAK ALIVE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

Fayetteville, GA - With the United Sprint Car Series making the switch from dirt tracks to asphalt tracks this weekend, the hottest driver on the tour will try to get his asphalt together to keep his streak alive this Friday night in USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour action at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC.

Danny "The Hammer" Martin Jr. of Sarasota, FL has won the last two USCS Outlaw Thunder Dirt Tour events on July 23 in Swainsboro, GA, and on July 24 in Cochran, GA. The 18-year-old "young gun" Martin currently sits second in the USCS National point standings behind the defending and three-time USCS National Champion Terry Gray of Bartlett, TN.

USCS is the only winged outlaw sprint car series in the country that competes on both dirt and asphalt tracks.

Pound-for-pound, winged outlaw sprint cars are the most powerful short track racing cars in the world. They're powered by 700-horsepower fuel-injected, methanol-burning V-8 engines. The large wings on top and in front of the cars gives them maximum down force for high corner speeds, and enable the cars to lift the front wheels off the ground coming off the corners.

"We've finally got out dirt program running strong and we've learned what our dirt car likes as far a chassis set-up," Martin said. "Now, our goal is to get our asphalt program going strong so we can run up front with Terry Gray and Kenny Adams. Our team doesn't have the experience on asphalt like those guys do, so we've got some catching up to do."

In the five USCS Asphalt Thunder events run so far this season, Gray and Adams have combined to win four of them. Adams has been the dominant force with three victories and the "Malabar Missile" has also been the fast qualifier at all five races. Gray has one win and has finished in the top five in each event. The "Bartlett Bullet" leads the USCS Asphalt Thunder points chase.

Martin missed the first USCS Asphalt Thunder event held in March in Braselton, GA, but in his debut on April 30 in Hickory, NC, "The Hammer" turned in an impressive fifth-place finish. He followed that up with another fifth, and two sixth-place finishes. Just as was the case with his dirt program, Martin is just a couple of adjustments away from being a threat to beat Gray and Adams.

Doug Berryman of Mansfield, OH is not only a threat to win a USCS Asphalt Thunder show, but he has visited the winner's circle this season in Braselton, GA. Berryman will be joined by his teammate Joe Rebman of Mansfield, OH, who also has a pair of second-place finishes this season in USCS Asphalt Thunder competition.

Will Ragsdale of Easley, SC is another driver that has been a consistent front-runner in USCS Asphalt Thunder action this season. Ragsdale is a pavement specialist, and has three top five finishes. Doug "Solid" Gold of Concord, NC has been improving at each race, and has climbed to fourth in the USCS Asphalt Thunder points chase behind Gray, Adams, and Ragsdale.

Berryman is fifth in USCS Asphalt Thunder points followed by Martin, and Rebman. Bill Moore of Denver, NC, Jimmy Taylor of Green Pond, SC, and R.J. Johnson of Decatur, TN round out the top ten. Johnson is a 16-year-old driver that is also the top USCS Rookie of the Year Candidate.

The Friday night show at Tri-county Speedway will see the USCS pavement pounders compete in time trials, the Air Flow Research Power Dash, heat races, and a 30-lap main event. USCS has posted bonuses that will be paid to the 305 Asphalt and "True Dirt" sprint cars that finish in the top 10 and top 5 of the main event Friday night. Any 305 sprint car that finishes in the top 10 will receive a $125 bonus, and $250 will go to any 305 sprint car that finishes in the top 5 cars.

USCS has also posted first time bonuses for "True Dirt" sprint cars competing on Friday night. Bonuses will be paid to "True Dirt" sprint cars that finish in the top 10 and top 5 of the main event. A "True Dirt" sprint car is a race car that has the motor mounted 7 or more inches above the bottom frame rail and is running a USCS legal dirt motor. The car must also measure 54.5 or more inches from the back of the engine to the center of the right rear torsion bar at the arm. The car must also employ a Jacobs Ladder in the rear.

Any "True Dirt " sprint car that finishes in the top 10 will receive a $125 bonus, and $250 will go to any "True Dirt " sprint car that finishes in the top 5 cars on Friday night. Other bonuses available include the $100 longest tow award for the driver who travels the greatest distance to Hudson, NC.

On Friday night at Tri-County Motor Speedway, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., the grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m. practice will begin at 5:20 p.m., the drivers meeting is set for 6:45 p.m., time trials are at 7:15 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 8 p.m. The Tri County Motor Speedway Late Model, Street Stock, Mini Stock, Super Sport, and Fast and Furious Divisions will also be in action.

For more information call (828) 726-6600, or visit the Tri-County Motor Speedway website at www.tricountymotorspeedway.com. Tri-County Motor Speedway is located 5.5 miles north of I-40 at exit 133, then .7 miles east on Baton Church Road, then .5 miles north on Hickory Nut Ridge Road.

For the latest USCS news, information, points, and statistics visit the series website at www.uscsracing.com.

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