Mr. Marvin Andrew Ford, age 71, of Rome, GA, passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2022. 

Mr. Ford was born in Floyd County, GA, on April 20, 1951, son of the late Jess Ford and the late Ruthie Mae Watters Ford.  He was also preceded in death by 17 siblings.  Mr. Ford owned and operated A-Ford Rentals in Cedartown, GA, from 1978 until 2012.  After his “retirement” he owned Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Fort Payne, AL, where his true passion of racing could be fulfilled. Racing was Mr. Fords life.  His greatest accomplishment in the sport came in 1987 when he won the Alabama State Racing Championship on the dirt track. Mr. Ford achieved many other awards and recognitions, having won more than 500 races in his career.  He was of the Baptist faith.
      
Ford, the longtime owner and promoter of Fort Payne (Ala.) Motor Speedway and founder of the United Championship Racing Alliance for Crate Late Models, passed away Saturday night.

Ford’s racing connections included being flagman at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., before taking promotional roles, Steve Hixson said, Ford's assistant promoter. He operated Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Ala., from 1988-97 and later purchased the former Thunder Mountain Speedway in Fyffe, Ala., and renamed it Fort Payne Motor Speedway.

"He was constantly trying to improve things weekly at the racetrack,” Hixson added, “and had grand ideas about making the experience at the racetrack better for fans and drivers.”

 Survivors include his wife, Janis Marie Ingram, Silver Creek, to whom he was with for over 20 years; 2 sons, Craig Ford (Wendy), Rome, and Destin Purvis (Deanna Bagwell), Silver Creek; 6 grandchildren, Zach Owens, Jessica Hill, Hallie Purvis, Bentley Bagwell, Scarlett Purvis and Gannon Bagwell; 4 great-grandchildren, MaKayla Royer, Avery Royer, Cole Ridings and Cameron Ridings; 3 siblings, William Ford (Joan), Ray Ford (Brenda), and Alice Hart; a special sister-in-law, Becky Ford; numerous nieces and nephews.
      
Cards and such can be sent to; 4 Hayes Place, Silver Creek, GA 30173

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel.  The Rev. Wayne Kines and William Ford will officiate.
     
 The family will receive friends from 3pm until service time on Wednesday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel.

Located
3002 Maple Road
Rome, GA 30161

The death of Ford, was reported by his son Craig Ford on Facebook and Steve Hixson, who assisted the Fort Payne track and the UCRA series with publicity.
Ford, had bypass surgery many years ago and suffered a mild heart attack in 2016. He was at home after Fort Payne’s scheduled Saturday racing was rained out. He was found in distress; efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Ford’s racing connections included being a former flagger at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., before taking promotional roles, Hixson said. He operated Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Ala., from 1989-97 and later purchased the former Thunder Mountain Speedway in Fyffe, Ala., and renamed it Fort Payne Motor Speedway.

"He was constantly trying to improve things weekly at the racetrack,” Hixson added, “and had grand ideas about making the experience at the racetrack better for fans and drivers.”

Besides his son Craig, among survivors are longtime partner Janis Ingram, who handles day-to-day operations of the racetrack. Arrangements are incomplete.

Tazewell, TN (9/22/22) --- The United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA event at Tazewell Speedway in Northeast Tennessee has been altered to pay respects to racer Buddy Rogers. The event has been rained out twice and  owner Gary Hall wants to pay tribute to the #44 East TN racer. The Saturday October 1st event is now 44 Laps, paying $3,044 to win. More information is available at TazewellSpeedway.net or at UCRAracing.com

Fort Payne AL, (8/13/22) --- Saturday night the Fort Payne Motor Speedway hosted the United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil, for the annual Fort Payne 40 Back to School event for 604/Crate Late 
Models. Local racer Jeff Helms of Gadsden, earned his biggest win of his career winning the 40 lap, $2,500 to win main event. Helms held off numerous challenges from fast qualifier Kasey Hall of Geraldine and former two-time  champion Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN. Hall and Elliott swapped second place a few times before Elliott spun in turn four ending his night prematurely. Helms would keep Hall and Lil' John Owenby of Cleveland at bay for the remaining 40 laps with Owenby taking second on the final restart. Bill Mahan of Lacey Springs and Kyle May of Pisgah rounded out the top five finishers. The UCRA series takes off next weekend and wraps up a busy August with the annual "Raz May Taz 50" at the Tazewell Speedway in East Tennessee Saturday night August 27th. For more information about the UCRA visit UCRAracing.com or their Facebook page.

Feature Finish
1)Jeff Helms 2)John Owenby 3)Kasey Hall 4)Bill Mahan 5)Kyle Maye 6)Matt Stewart 7)Jessie Hughes 8)Jeremy Baines 9)Jerry Hendrix II 10)Kenny Kizzar 11)Jimmy Elliott 12)Roger Morgan 13)Kevin Hale 14)Jason Williams

Sale Creek, TN's Kenny Kizzar is the series current, reigning and defending series champion, despite being winless in 2022. "We're close", grins the #157 "Don's Foreign Cars, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Dodd Bros, KC Graphics" sponsored CVR / Performance Racing Engines powered racer, whom also hosts the W.E. Rock Eastern Series Round #3 Rock Crawl July 22-23rd in Dayton, TN at his Pits Gap Rd location. Kizzar's record speaks for itself winning last years $5,000 Championship after seven years of chasing the gold. This year record includes; four top five appearances, with two runners up finishes. Tazewell Speedway in East Tennessee near the Kentucky border is quickly becoming Kizzar's Kingdom as he's stalking Victory Lane each time the series travels to the ultra high-banked clay oval.

This weekend's events begin Friday night at 7PM CST in Lafayette. AL at Penton Motor Speedway just South of Atlanta across the Georgia/Alabama stateline. Calvin Pike reopened the facility this past off season and is primarily running Friday nights. Fireworks to celebrate Independence Day will accompany the 50 lap $3,000 to win show. Then it's off to Phenix City/Columbus. GA and the world's famous East Alabama Motor Speedway. Known for the annual Crown Jewel "National 100" in October/November and its preamble the annual "State Race" 604/Crate Late Model raceteams flock to this ultra high-banked 3/8's mile dirt track. Races start Saturday night at 7PM EST. For further information on UCRA and/or Penton Motor Speedway and East Alabama Motor Speedway follow them on Social Media Facebook pages and at  UCRAracing.com.

Clanton, AL (6/24/22) --- The United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA is rescheduling their race at Buckshot Speedway in Clanton, AL off I-65 between Birmingham and Montgomery for their 604/Crate Late Model series debut. The "Clanton Clash" event will now be scheduled for Saturday July 16th, after postponing their May date, due to a scheduling conflict. This will mark three straight Alabama dates as Penton Motor Speedway and East Alabama Motor Speedway host a week earlier. Track owner/promoter Billy Wilkins is excited to be working with the series that'll be bringing a top field of talent for the 40 lap, $3,000 to win A-Main feature race. More details can be found at UCRAracing.com and on the series social media Facebook site.

1. Drew Kennedy,  2. Rusty Ballenger, 3. DJ Shannon,  4. Zach Shannon,  5. Jeremy Shannon, 6. Travis Fultz,  7. Kenny Kizzar,  8. Coby Jones,  9. Perry Delaney,  10. Anthony White Jr, 11. Jason Cardwell 

Tire Rules for Bama Duals 2 Weekend:
Front Open
Right Rear Hoosier 55 or 1600 
or American Racer 56 or Hoosier Spec 1350, Spec 1600, Crate 21 and Crate 55
Left Rear Hoosier 21, 55, 1350 or 1600 or American Racer 48 or 56 or Hoosier Spec 1350, Spec 1600, Crate 21 and Crate 55

Results: 1. Sam Seawright, 2. Jeff Helms, 3. Kasey Hall, 4. Kenny Kizzar, 5. Brent Rhodes, 6. Rod Carroll, 7. Jesse Hughes, 8. Roger Morgan, 9. Robert Mitcham.

TAZEWELL, Tenn. (5/29/22) --- Sunday night the United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil rolled into Tazewell Speedway in East Tennessee near the Kentucky border for the Melvin Corum Memorial 50 Crate Late Model event. Aaron Guinn of nearby Russellville set fast time among the 19 entries but it was Josh Collins (# 144) of Strawberry Plains, TN stealing the heat race from Guinn earning the pole for the $3,001 to win Main Event. UCRA points leader and reigning, defending series champion Kenny Kizzar (# 157) of Sale Creek, TN won heat #2 and earned the out "Front Row Joe" starting position for the feature with Collins. At the drop of the green the chase was on as Collins led Kizzar and Guinn early. One caution slow the race and in the end Collins with his "Compass, Knoxville Deisel, State Farm Josh Hemphill Team, Brucebuilt Performance, Stealth Racing Carburetor" 604/GM Performance machine taking the win. Kizzar would settle for second and Knoxville's Bradley Llewellyn third. Next Saturday night UCRA returns to action at the Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Northeast Alabama outside Chattanooga for the "Summer Slammer 40" $2,500 to win event. Visit UCRAracing.com or their Facebook page for more information. >>READ MORE

Clanton, AL (5/11/22) --- Buckshot Speedway along with Redline Oil/UCRA Officials regretfully have cancelled the race for Saturday May 21st. This race will be rescheduled at a later date.

Fort Payne, AL (5/7/22) --- Two-time United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA champion Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN showed Saturday night that he still has the stuff, by winning the 5th  annual "Mayhem 40" 604/Crate Late Model feature at Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Northeast Alabama. Fast Qualifier Booger Brooks of Chattanooga set the pace early and seemed to be well on his way towards another victory, until a backmarker car collected the leader in a crash around the halfway mark of the 40 lapper. Points leader Kenny Kizzar of Sale Creek, had mechanical woes which dropped his chances a victory early. Elliott held off current Rookie of the Year leader and 2022 Bama Brawl winner Brent Rhodes of Crossville, AL for the $2,500 payday. Jeff Helms of Gadsden rounded up the podium finishers. Follow the UCRA online on Facebook and at UCRAracing.com for more details.

Results 
Jimmy Elliott, Brent Rhodes, Jeff Helms, Terry Poole, Kasey Hall, Jesse Hughes,
Robert Mitcham, Roger Morgan, Josh Henry, Kenny Kizzar, Booger Brooks, Thomas Willoughby 

SWEETWATER, Tenn. (04/23/22) --- Sweetwater, TN (4/23/22) --- The United Championship Racing Alliance presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil for 604/Crate Late Models were at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater to race Round #3 of the $15,000 Championship Season Saturday night. Hayden Cardwell of Knoxville picked up the $2,500 "Spring-Loaded" victory dethroning Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, who'se won all four of the previous annual events. The Rusty Webb Racing CVR Race Cars team sponsored by "R&W Properties, Crate Engine Technologies, Harris Speedshop, 
Dazzling Detail & Bling, Morgan- McClure Chevrolet, Brucebuilt Performance, Tennessee Shine Co., Bakers Wrecker Service, Fox Shocks" team has been on a roll winning multiple times at I-75 Raceway, this season alone. Gresham Racing Parts: Fast Time award went to runner up Ethan Hunter of Harrison with former UCRA champion Jesse Lowe of Crossville rounding out the podium finishers. Hedgecock was 16th overall in the final rundown. 

Results: Hayden Cardwell, Ethan Hunter, Jesse Lowe, Matt Shannon Jr, Trevor Sise, Kenny Kizzar. Tim Clark, Perry Delaney, Austin Breedlove, Jason Cardwell, Zach Sise, William Blankenship. Seth Jolly, Drew Kennedy, Michael Smith, Cory Hedgecock, Chris Chandler, Tyler Smith, Brent Rhodes, Jonathan Ingram, Brandon Miller, Brian Kinnersley, Jimmy Elliott DNS: Max Baker. Brody Littleton

TAZEWELL, Tenn. (04/02/22) --- Saturday night the Tazewell Speedway opened the 2022 season with the Jim Arnwine Memorial 50 hosted by the United Championship Racing Alliance presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil. Eighteen 604/Crate Late Model raceteams entered vying for over $11,000 in posted prize monies, all seeking the $3,011 first place check. Hometown racer Clyde Overholt set fast time of 12:088 seconds around Gary Hall's Ultra-High Banked 1/3 mile clay oval, earning the $100 bonus from Gresham Racing Parts of Georgia. Heat races saw Josh Collins (#144) of Strawberry Plains, TN and Aaron Guinn of Russellville earn front row starting positions for the 50 lap feature. Pole sitter Josh Collins had to play catch-up to early race leader Guinn and did so with the help of backmarker traffic. Travis Fultz of Harrogate, would run second to Collins with the series Reining Defending Champion Kenny Kizzar of Sale Creek chasing the top two. Kizzar would settle for the final podium position at the checkers and unofficially takes the points lead from rookie contender Brent Rhodes. Collins takes third in the points standings unofficially with his victory Saturday night. Fultz will sit fourth in UCRA points with Alabama's Kasey Hall dropping to fifth. 

Knoxville racers Heath Alvey and Jordan Horton rounded out the top five finishers Saturday night at the Taz. The UCRA takes off two weekends before returning to action Saturday night, April 23rd at Sweetwater's I-75 Raceway halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville for the annual Spring-Loaded 40 event paying $2,500 to win.

For more information about the UCRA visit UCRAracing.com or follow the series on its Facebook page. 

Josh Collins, Travis Fultz, Kenny Kizzar, Heath Alvey, Jordan Horton, Jacob Owens, Brent Rhodes, Bradley Strong, Aaron Guinn, Mathew Smith, Chris Rains, Jason Trammell, Michael Smith, Brian Smith, Steve Smith, Clyde Overholt.

Cedartown, GA (2/26/22) --- Officials with the United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil have released their 2022 schedule for the $15,000 championship season for 604/Crate Late Models. The 2022 series champion Kenny Kizzar of Sale Creek, TN will carry his red spoiler crown on the rear of his #157 "We ROCK Rock Crawl, Dodd Bros. Wrecker Service" CVR during the season in defense of his $5,000 Red Line title. The series will invade for the first time a brand new venue in Clanton, Alabama as Billy Wilkins welcomes the UCRA to his Buckshot Speedway for the ALABAMA EXTRAVAGANZA May 21st. Returning to the forefront are UCRA staples Tazewell Speedway in East Tennessee and Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Northeast Alabama each appearing on the schedule four times in 2022. The other mainstay of the series I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN returns to the schedule under new ownership of Shannon Littleton and his family with their two events; the annual SPRINGLOADED and the new SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER 911 MEMORIAL Saturday night September 10th. Wartburg (TN) Speedway and Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, GA each return to the 2022 schedule with races in June and August respectfully. For further information on the UCRA 604/Crate Late Model series visit UCRAracing.com.

2022 UCRA SCHEDULE PRESENTED BY RED LINE SYNTHETIC OIL 

Fri 2/25 Fort Payne Motor Speedway Q&H
Sat 2/26 Fort Payne Motor Speedway $3,000 BAMA BRAWL

Sat 3/26 Tazewell Speedway $3,011 ARNWINE MEMORIAL

Sat 4/23 I-75 Raceway $2,500 SPRINGLOADED

Sat 5/7 Fort Payne Motor Speedway  $2,500 MAYHEM 40
Sat 5/21 Buckshot Speedway $2,500 ALABAMA EXTRAVAGANZA
Sun 5/29 Tazewell Speedway $3,001 BILL CORUM MEMORIAL

Sat 6/4  Fort Payne Motor Speedway $2,500 SUMMERSLAMMER 40
Sat 6/18  Wartburg Speedway $2,500 TENNESSEE TUSSLE

Sat 8/6 Fort Payne Motor Speedway $2,500 BACK 2 SCHOOL 40
Sat 8/20 Sugar Creek Raceway $3,000 BLUE RIDGE 50
Sat 8/27  Tazewell Speedway $3,000 BAD FAST TAZ 50

Sat 9/10. I-75 Raceway $2,500 SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER 911 MEMORIAL

Sat 10/01 Tazewell Speedway $3,000 RED LINE NATIONALS
Sat 10/29  Fort Payne Motor Speediway  $2,500 WITCHY 50

1. Kasey Hall, 2. Sam Seawright, 3. Kenny Kizzar, 4. Jay Cromer, 5. Shane Griffith, 6. Chip Brindle, 7. Kyle Courtney, 8. Kevin Hale, 9. Bobby Pruitt, 10. Jesse Hughes, DNS. Thomas Willoughby

The United Championship Racing Alliance presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil kicked off its 2021 season much like it did in 2020 and it was local racer Sam Seawright narrowly beating out the competition for the $3,000 prize Sunday afternoon, for his second consecutive BAMA BRAWL title. Rookie of the Year contender Jeremy Holtzclaw of Sparta seemed enroute to dethrone Seawright, but a flat tire catapulted the leader into the back straightaway wall on the final lap, handing the victory to second running Seawright. Jerry Green (Knoxville), 2019 UCRA champ Jesse Lowe (Crossville), Kenny Kizzar (Soddy Daisy) and Tyler Nichols (Ringgold) rounded out the top five finishers.

Feature Finish: 1. Sam Seawright, 2. Jerry Green, 3. Jesse Lowe, 4. Kenny Kizzar, 5. Tyler Nichols, 6. Jessie Hughes, 7. Jeremy Holtzclaw, 8. Hayden Ownbey, 9. Kasey Hall, 10. Clay Joseph, 11. Cody Overton, 12. Shane Griffith, 13. Jake Traylor, 14. Brian Womack, 15. Colten Jackson-DNS, 16. Chase Oliver-DNS

The series heads to Tazewell (TN) Speedway in a month (3/20) for round #2 of the 2021 championship season.

Cardwell's Rookie of the Year earnings was delivered and the Knoxville racer will be picking it up later this week. Kenny Kizzar of Soddy Daisy picked up his earnings for finishing third in the National Points Standings. Kizzar's the longest standings racer with the UCRA, beginning 604/Crate Late Model competition with the series on its inaugural season in 2015. Kasey Hall of Alabama will be getting his fourth place earnings later this week. 

With Fort Payne Motor Speedway's BAMA BRAWL just four weeks away (Feb 18-21st), officials announced their race dates for 2021 with the Red Line Synthetic Oil UCRA series. Saturday, June 12th, August 21st and October 23rd the series will be in action tentatively, all paying $2,500 to-win. I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN has  committed to Saturday April 10th and July 24th for their SPRINGLOADED 40 and LARRY KYLE MEMORIAL races also paying $2,500 to-win. Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, GA is returning to action in 2021. Their UCRA dates are Saturday, May 1st and July 31st, paying $2,500 to-win each race. The Wartburg (TN) Speedway host their race Saturday July 17th paying $2,500 to-win its 40 lapper. Tazewell Speedway dates include Saturday March 20th, Sunday May 30th, and Saturday October 9th, the latter, two events pay $3,000 to-win each. 

The United Championship Racing Alliance 2021 season will again be presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil and will boast a $15,000 points championship, that includes a $1,000 Rookie of the Year chase. New spoiler and tire rules go into effect in 2021 with details online at UCRAracing.com. Gresham Racing Parts of Rome, GA is returning as the $100 Fast Qualifier sponsor at each event. Dates are subject to change and to be added to without notice.

"We already planned our schedules" referring to his track, just North of Knoxville, "Unfortunately it looks like this new entity is messing up other tracks schedules too" stated Mr. Hall.

Of the reported 159 pre-entries at the other facility, Saturday March 20th, only a specific number will make their feature, leaving almost 130 raceteams of 604's GM Performance racers looking for somewhere to race Saturday night. Tazewell Speedway is just 1hr and 40min (90 miles) away. Tazewell Speedway's March 20th "Charles Trammell Memorial" pays $2,500 to-Win the 40 lap feature.

The UCRA will again return to Tazewell Speedway in 2021 for two other weekends of competition both paying $3,000 to-Win, coming Sunday night May 30th Memorial Day weekend with the Melvin Corum Memorial and Saturday October 9th with the Raz-Ma' Taz 50.

In 2020 locals Jason Trammell and Josh Collins picked off UCRA victories, with the March date being cut due to COVID19 Pandemic uprising last Spring. Rookie of the Year Jason Cardwell had a runner up finish as did Alabama's "Back-The-Blue Bandit" (# 13) Kasey Hall. Contender Jeff Neubert of Rockford, also had a great run at Tazewell in 2020. UCRA is continuing to work with promoters for scheduling purposes for 2021. I-75 Raceway's Sweetwater, TN track will be announcing dates for the annual "Spring-Loaded" and "Larry Kyle Memorial" race dates next.

For information on UCRA visit UCRAracing.com or visit their Facebook page. UCRA is presenting 604/Crate Late Model racing courtesy of Red Line Synthetic Oil. 

All classes will qualify and run heats Saturday to determine starting orders for Sunday afternoon. Other classes including KMSA Mini Stock ($2,000 Win), 602/Sportsman ($1,300 Win), Open Wheel Modified ($1,200 Win), A-Hobby/Street Stock ($1,100 Win) Bombers ($1,100 Win) and FWD ($700 Win) will all be in action. The new B-Hobby SOUTHERN OUTLAW HOBBY series will make its FPMS debut paying $1,500 to win the Chris Storey promoted race.

More details for all classes including rules updates, will be posted on the FortPayneMotorSpeedway.com website and on the tracks Facebook page. UCRA dates for Spring and on into Summer 2021, are still being etched out with track owners/promoters. UCRA can be reached through Steve Hixson and/or Marvin Ford on the contact page of UCRAracing.com.

Invitees to Red Line Race of Champions: Ethan Hunter, Jason Cardwell, Jason Trammell, Jason Welshan, Jake Teague, Jake Traylor, Jesse Lowe, Jimmy Elliott,
Jordan Horton, Josh Collins, Michael Courtney, Ross White, Rusty Ballenger, Sam Seawright, Seth Wimpey