By Ryan Delph
- Raye Vest Racing

YORK, Pa. -November 7, 2005- Rick Eckert and the Raye Vest Racing team, fresh off a successful World of Outlaws Stacker2 Late Model Series campaign, invaded the East Alabama Motor Speedway this past weekend with one goal in mind … to repeat as the ‘National 100’ champion. After a long seventy-two hour weekend, the York, Pennsylvania based team achieved their objective and left Phenix City, Alabama $30,000 richer. Rick is now a two-time champion of the mega-event, as he also won the 100-lap affair at EAMS last season.

After a practice session on Friday, the racing activities for the annual ‘National 100’ commenced on Saturday with time trials and heat race action. Rick timed in fifth fastest in qualifying and led wire-to-wire in his heat race to snatch the pole position for the 100-lap, unsanctioned ‘National 100’ on Sunday. In the A-Main, Rick jumped out to an early lead aboard his Raye Vest / J&J Steel #24 Rocket / Cornett Ford Taurus and showed the point throughout the early to middle stages of the event.

Lapped traffic would play a major role as the race unfolded and it nearly cost Rick a chance at the victory. As the leaders raced in and out of heavy lapped traffic, Rick got hooked on a lapped car, which allowed several cars to pass him for position. However, a timely caution flag would fly before all cars were able to make that green flag lap, allowing Rick to restart from the top spot. The driver known nationwide as “Scrub” held off all challenges throughout the remainder of the event and bested Clint Smith and Randle Chupp to the checkered flags to give the Raye Vest Racing team 30,000 reasons to smile!

The $30,000 payday for the ‘National 100’ victory tied Rick’s largest winning purse for the 2005 racing season. Rick also garnered $30,000 for winning the ‘Scorcher 100’ at the Volunteer (TN) Speedway back in late August.

“I guess I like that 30,000 number,” joked Eckert on his way back to Pennsylvania on Monday. “It was great to be able to win the National 100 title again because it is such a prestigious race. Our car was pretty good all weekend long and I have to thank my crew for preparing the car for the track conditions at EAMS. There were some different tire combinations out there, but our selection was good enough to get the win.” “Lapped traffic was a huge factor in the race and it almost cost us,” Eckert went on to say in the telephone conversation. “I got hooked on that lapped car and Clint (Smith) and some of those other guys got around me. Luckily, the field didn’t make a complete lap before the caution came out. Who knows what would have happened if I had to restart third or fourth, but I am glad I got my spot back up front.” The Raye Vest Racing team will wrap up their 2005 racing season this weekend at the Clary’s Speedway in Brinkleyville, North Carolina. The unsanctioned ‘East Coast Clash’ will take place this Saturday, November 12 at Clary’s and a $10,000 top prize is on the line for the Dirt Late Model division. In addition, a $500 Fast Time Award is being posted, along with a $2,000 purse for the dash event in preliminary action leading up to the 75-lap A-Main. For more information concerning the season ending event for the Raye Vest Racing team, point your web browser to www.clarysspeedway.8k.com.

Rick would like to thank the following sponsors for their commitment to his race team: Raye Vest, J&J Steel, Inc., Rocket Chassis, Cornett Thunder, Eckert Trucking, S&S Mobile Power Wash, Diesel Pro, Ohlins, Arizona Sport Shirts, AT Lubricants, ATL Fuel Cells, Baker Carburetion, Bell Helmets, Bert Transmissions, Cizmar, Delph Communications, Driver X Gloves, Fastner Speciality Motorsports, DH Competition Decals by HIP, Hoosier Tire, Jay-Dee Supply, Jones Racing Products, Karcher, Kochel Equipment Co., Mahle, Manley Performance, Mason Racin', Motul Lubricants, Out-Pace Racing Products, Penn Kleen, Performance Bodies, Performance Friction, Petersen Aluminum, Peterson Fluid Systems, Scott Performance Wire, Tim Fitez Painting, Sunoco HCR Plus, Trick Race Parts, US Brake, Weld Wheels, and Woodward.

The latest dirt on “Scrub” Rick Eckert can be found online at his official website, located at www.rickeckertracing.com.


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