Randy Benson has a chance to live out his dream when he attempts to qualify today for Saturday’s United Auto Racing Association race at Rockingham Speedway.

The Rockingham native has been racing for 15 years, and is a two-time Late Model Stock Champion at the Caraway Speedway at Asheboro. As a kid, Benson sold newspapers to buy tickets for the races at Rockingham and later worked at the track.

In his 10th year as a Late Model stock car driver, the 50-year-old Benson will finally have the opportunity to drive his No. 2 gold Monte Carlo stock car around his hometown track.

“I raced go-carts there in the early 1980s, but as far as racing a car, this will be my first time,” Benson said. “Since I used to hang around there a lot, this is something I always wanted to do. I know at some point age is going to take over, so I’m happy about getting the shot to do it. This will be the first time UARA will run there with these types of cars.”

Benson said he was disappointed when racing left the speedway, but praised track owner Andy Hillenburg for bringing racing back to the community last year.

“I fussed about it when they took it away, but one person can’t do a whole lot,” Benson said. “It hurt when racing left because of the fond memories I had growing up there. Andy has really done a great job and I believe the racing this weekend should be exciting for everyone.”

During testing at Rockingham last month in preparation for Saturday’s race, Benson was seventh in the final rundown.

“I didn’t expect to go that fast,” Benson said. “There were some boys that had a lot of speedway experience out there. Before then, I had never gone full throttle at Rockingham. I previously drove school cars, but that was at a lot slower pace. When you’re out there going wide open, it’s a totally different ball game.”

Benson admitted he doesn’t have the funding like some of the big UARA teams he will be compete against, but added there are some advantages of doing it on your own.

“We know there are some people that are more fortunate than others money-wise,” Benson said. “It is somewhat of disadvantage for us because they get to pay somebody to put their body on and do their chassis. They don’t have to put in as much work, but it can be an advantage for us at the same time.

“We do have to do the body, engine and transmission work ourselves, but you learn how to do all the set up stuff. I always felt like when you learn more, it makes you think more and you don’t have to spend as much money.”

Since 2007, Benson has dedicated his races to late friend and former late model racer Rusty Harpe, who was killed at 28.

“He was a real good friend and the first time I met him we crashed together in a late model race,” Benson said. “His wife is still a good friend of the family and it was devastating when it occurred. We parked together side by side for five years and helped each other. That was the only way both teams could make it. We have carried his number on our car since.”

Benson is looking to pull double duty on Saturday, besides the UARA race

at “The Rock,” Benson also plans to race in

the Budweiser 200 at the Caraway Speedway.

“Our goal is try to make through the first race and

go and try to race there as well,” Benson said. “If

this car is torn up, I got

a back up deal that I can climb in somebody else car if we can’t get this one up there.”

For Benson, the first order of business is making a strong showing at Rockingham.

“Hopefully, I can make a good enough time to make the field first,” Benson said. “If I’m in the race, I first want to feel out my competition out because I don’t know them. The biggest thing in racing is staying out of trouble because most of time when you do, then normally you will be somewhere in the top five. Hopefully, I will give myself a chance and it would be good for someone from here to win it.”

n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com