3 rd Annual Dwight Huffman Memorial Race for Charity
( Newton, NC -- July 6, 2010 ) Trading his headset for a fire suit, Matt McCall is set to return to the driver's seat during the 3 rd Annual Dwight Huffman Memorial Race for Charity. After being sidelined for most of the 2010 season, the current United Auto Racing Association Series champion is taking off from his engineering duties to race at Hickory Motor Speedway.
“It's a good fun track to race at,” said McCall. “The race is for such a good cause. Dwight did a lot for the sport and this is just a unique opportunity to give back and remember him.”
McCall is currently the reigning winner of the Dwight Huffman Memorial Race for Charity. In 2009 he took the races' Renegade Challenge, choosing to give up his starting position to move to the back of the field in an effort to win double the purse money. McCall raced hard, moving into the front taking the checkered flag in the first place position.
“It was definitely a big challenge,” said McCall. “It was one of those situations where it may have even helped to start in the back because I didn't have to drive nearly as hard as those other guys out front. We just had to avoid all of the major catastrophes.”
Working hard is nothing new for McCall. Growing up at his parents' family business, he learned early that success comes with many challenges.
“My parents had to work their tails off for everything they had so I sort of learned that from working with them,” he said.
Over the years this knowledge has served McCall well as he has made a name for himself in racing. After racing as a teenager, the driver experienced success in the Late Model division at Hickory Motor Speedway where he won the track championship in 2004. One year later, he was competing in the UARA Series eventually becoming the first UARA repeat champion in 2009.
Even with his success in driving, McCall seeks to gain other perspectives in the racing industry. Without a full-time sponsor this year, he has focused on his own business, Matt McCall Motorsports (MX3). Taking his engineering degree and knowledge, McCall created MX3 to focus on the set-up and design of Late Model Stock cars. The transition from driver to engineer, however, has not been easy.
“I get enjoyment out of working with MX3, but it's still not as fun as driving in circles,” said McCall. “If I could do that and race every week, it would be the ideal situation. Until we can find some more sponsorship though, it's just not feasible.”
With a chance to suit up once again, McCall plans to relish his time in the drivers seat during his return to Hickory Motor Speedway.
“Every time I get a chance to race it makes me even more hungry than before. I never know exactly how long it's going to be until I race again, so every time I race, I'm putting more effort into it than I have before.”
McCall hopes that effort will pay off, as he could be the first repeat winner of the Dwight Huffman Memorial Race for Charity.
The Dwight Huffman Memorial Race for Charity will be run at Hickory Motor Speedway on July 10. Appearances will be made by the Bojangles Late Models, Advance Auto Parts Limited Late Models, and front wheel drive cars from the UCAR Clash for Cash Touring Series. Grandstands open at 4 p.m. Advance tickets are currently on sale at participating Arby's locations. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for teens and seniors. Children 12 and under get in free! Tickets prices at the gate are $10 for adults and $7 for teens and seniors.
Dwight Huffman Memorial PR
Don't Miss the 3rd Annual Dwight Huffman Memorial Saturday, July 10 at Hickory Motor Speedway