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Event number three for the Tucker Motorsports team would turn out to be highly eventful. In qualifying, Noel in his #10 Rocket Chassis set quick time starting along side Chris Cheek. At the drop of the green flag, he settled into the second position and an intense battle for the lead ensued. After several close laps with Cheek, Tucker was finally able to pass for the lead and hold on to take his second victory of 2009.

Following the event, Tucker's win was protested by fifth place finisher, Bobby Jones. After several hours and a phone call to certified engine builder, Steve Heintz, the track determined Tucker to be legal. An appeal of the track’s decision was made by Jones’ car owner, Scott Rigney. On Monday morning, the track contacted a second certified engine builder, Bill Hendren of Hendren’s Racing Engines as well as Chris Knight with City Chevrolet to confirm that the initial determination made by the track was in fact, correct.

Noel Tucker and the Tucker Motorsports Team traveled to Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC for their 2009 season opener with a new car number celebrating his 10 years of dirt racing.

Tucker, in his J&J Race Cars, Aunt Bea's BBQ, Granite City Auto machine would get the 2009 season off to a good start when he would earn the outside front row starting spot of the 26 cars taking time trials to qualify for the feature event. At the drop of the green flag, Tucker in his #10 Rocket Chassis would bolt to the lead and never look back, leading each of the 30 laps in the nights main event to take down his first win of the season.

Noel Tucker and the Tucker Motorsports Team traveled to Lavonia, Georgia for night 1 of the Fastrak Grand Nationals. This 2-day event brought 61 competitors to fight it out for the 24 available starting spots in the main event.

Qualifying 11th out of the 61 cars would put the #00 J&J Rocket starting in the 2nd spot of the 5th heat race. In that heat, Tucker would do battle with Chris Steele and take the lead at one point. However, the caution would come out and the team would have to go back to the 2nd spot where they would finish the heat and make it into the feature event.

By securing the 2nd spot in the 5th heat, Tucker would start the feature event in the 11th position. The team had planned to ride out the first several laps as to avoid being caught up in any crashes. Unfortunately for them, the event went 50 green flag laps with no cautions and they would be running in the 19th spot at the checkered flag.

"All in all, we did what we came to do. Of course we would have wanted to come away with the win, but I've just got to be pleased that we made the race. 37 guys came down here and had to go home without making it in the feature. I've been on that side of the deal, too and I know it's discouraging." Tucker said after the race. "It's been a long weekend and I'm not going to complain. Like I said, we came down here hoping to just make the race and that's what we did."

The next leg of the Fastrak Grand Nationals event will be held on October 15th and 16th at Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC with the finale on October 17th and 18th at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, VA.

Qualifying in the 3rd spot would place the Tucker Motorsports Team in a good position for the starting line up of the feature event.

After running 2nd for a few laps, Tucker quickly made his way past the race leader when they came up on lapped traffic. From that point, he never looked back and came away with his 8th feature win of the 2008 season at Friendship Speedway and the teams 9th win overall.

After the race Tucker commented, "2008 has been amazing for us. We have had an exceptional year with winning 9 races and 8 of them coming at Friendship. The feeling you get from winning never gets old. No matter the division or the track, a win is a win and it always feels good when your hard work pays off. I know that being a regular on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series for 4 years has definitely helped me with my driving. During that time we ran on different tracks each week, so that has helped us to know what adjustments to make on the cars. Basically we had to learn by trial and error. My crew can watch practice and know what adjustments the car needs and usually they are right on target. It's a great team effort and I'm just glad we're having such a successful year. It's the guys who help me week in and week out that really deserve all the credit."

Full race results and photos can be found by visiting www.friendshipracing.com.