The United Crate Racing Alliance has released it’s 2016 schedule expanding from its inaugural season. The updated UCRA tour schedule features 13 events at 11 different venues across 4 states, packed with a stellar field of race teams. Not only will they be chasing the Touring Championship worth over $15,000 in cash and prizes, but they will also be seeking Invitations for the $5,000 to-WIN / 60 lap Season Finale “Invitational” event in October.

Duck River Raceway Park in Shelbyville, TN will again host the first event of the UCRA series on Saturday, March 12th. The 40-lap, $2,500-to-win opener becomes the second consecutive season Bob Harris’ dirt track kicks off the season with the series. In 2015 a record number of 65 Crate Late Model race-teams entered the event. Last season the UCRA series averaged 34 Crate Late Models per event.

Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN will host their first ever UCRA series event, in 2016. The long 4/10ths mile track will host a pair events this season, sharing the card with sanctioned (Ultimate and Southern All-Star) Super Late Models races at both the April 2nd date as well as the September 17th race.

The third event of the season comes a three day weekend (April 14-16th) at the furthest distant track, the Moulton (AL) Speedway. Thursday will serve as an Open Practice night for the inaugural “Bama Blast” weekend kicking off the racing season for the North-West Alabama facility between Huntsville and Muscle Shoals.

Friday night’s action will host a non-points UCRA sanctioned 30 lap, $1,300 to-WIN feature. This will serve as “seat-time” for series regulars to gain familiarity of the 3/8th’s mile oval. Saturday (4/16) will be the weekend’s finale paying $2,500 to-WIN / 40 Laps. A tentative Fall return date for the UCRA is slated for the first weekend in August.

Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, TN wraps up the busy month of April hosting its first ever UCRA event on Saturday April while Tennessee National Raceway in Hohenwald kicks off May racing on Saturday night May 14th. The UCRA series home track Fort Payne (AL) Motor Speedway host it’s Memorial Day weekend event Saturday May 28th with a high probability of a Friday night May 27th and/or Sunday night May 29th dates to be announced later.

In June Ray Cook’s Tarheel state steps up with their inaugural UCRA event at the TriCounty Race Track in Brasstown, N.C. Friday night June 10th the stars n’ cars will battle for $2,500 to-WIN. Several track are interested in tagging with Ray on this weekend, but the Saturday June 11th date is still available at press-time. Other mid and late June dates are also being considered.

The second half of the season starts off with a “BANG!” as three tracks host the 4th of July festivities with a big three race weekend. The new Crossville (TN) Raceway will kick off the weekend Friday July 1st, with I-75 Raceway’s hosting Saturday’s event in Sweetwater, TN. Then on July 3rd the weekend wraps up Sunday night at Wartburg (TN) Speedway.

June and July dates are still being offered. Tracks are showing interest in UCRA events in August and September but High School and College Football schedules have yet to be released, therefore the UCRA has only the Invitational Finale event in October scheduled for October 6-8th.

Each track the UCRA visits in 2016 will receive a five invites to pass out to their regular Crate Late Model racers. This will allow not only series followers but local track weekly favorites, an opportunity to race in the season finale in October in Fort Payne. The updated Fall schedule as well as add-ons will be released to media outlets across the country or can be found online at www.UCRAracing.com and on the series’ Facebook page.