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The Tucker Motorsports Team has been gearing up for the 2011 racing season. Preparations are being finalized this week as they plan to compete at 311 Fastrack's season opener on April 2nd with two FASTRAK CRATE LATE MODEL entries. Tucker commented, "Last year was difficult for me with having debilitating back pain and eventually deciding to have surgery. This year I'm ready to put all of that behind me and go out feeling like I'm able to compete at full capacity." He continued, "This season we're teaming up with Tony Hicks and will be fielding two cars. Tony got me started in racing years ago and we've always enjoyed working together in the racing business." Tony Hicks is the uncle of Noel's wife, Velvet. Their history together goes back to when Noel was still in high school and he started helping Tony as part of his pit crew. This eventually led to Noel and Tony partnering on a chassis and engine in 1999 which gave Noel his first experience as a driver. "Tony is a good guy and we've always enjoyed racing together. It just feels like old times."

After having back surgery followed by 9 weeks of recovery time, Noel Tucker returned to Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, NC for some long awaited "seat time" in his Granite City Auto, #00, Rocket Chassis machine. The Tucker Motorsports Team was able to dial the car in for a strong qualifying run, earning the pole position for the main event. During the feature race, "Mr. Smooth" took the lead and never looked back to take down the win. "It feels good to be back." Tucker said after the race. "Earlier in the season, I kept trying to race and deal with back and leg pain when I really knew I shouldn't have been out there. Today, I feel like I'm at about 80% of where I need to be with my recovery, but this win sure makes me feel good. I'm just glad to be back in a racecar and be able to concentrate on what set-up changes we need to make to the car or what I need to do different with the driving. Before my surgery, it was tough to think about anything other than the pain," he continued. "I want to thank everyone who has stood by me throughout this ordeal. My family, friends, race team and fans. I'm glad to be able to race and without their encouragement, prayers, help and support it wouldn't be possible."

Full results for the feature events can be found at www.friendshipracing.com.

Over the past 7 weeks, Noel Tucker has been doing something he's not accustomed to doing. He's been watching his 00 cars compete at various tracks as doctors worked to get him back up to par during his bout with severely debilitating back and leg pain. Fortunately, this week "Mr. Smooth" was able to make his return to Elkin's Friendship Motor Speedway behind the wheel of his own car. After qualifying to start the feature in the 8th position, Tucker seemed to find his groove at about the half-way point of the main event and worked his way through the field to finish the race in the 4th spot.

"A rough track wasn't exactly what I was hoping for on my first week back," Tucker said. "But I guess it was just as well to jump in with both feet and see if this is something I'm going to be able to continue doing."

Tucker has been receiving spinal injections in order to avoid or at least postpone, a surgical procedure which his doctors at Duke Regional Hospital in Raleigh believe will relieve his back and leg pain.

"Tony & Billy (Hicks), Larry (Blankenship) and Robbie (Stevens) have all done a good job driving for me this year. Each week I just hoped they were having fun. That's not to say I didn't give them some friendly advice here and there. I'm sure there were times they probably wished I would just sit on top of the trailer and leave them alone," he laughed. "I'm not used to being a race spectator and I can tell you right now, that's not where I want to be. For me, it's been a long 7 weeks," Tucker continued. "We're going to keep running both cars each week. I just hope I'm able to keep driving one of them."

Noel and his wife, Velvet, would like to sincerely thank their family, friends and everyone in the racing community for their prayers, phone calls, concern and overall support.