ROBERSONVILLE – East Carolina Motor Speedway officials unveiled a schedule for the 2005 racing season that includes 13 late model sportsman races, three appearances by the Rolling Thunder Modified tour and a new division: UCAR.

Other divisions racing at ECMS in 2005 are stock look-alike, Feyer Ford & Mercury Modifed Street, super stock 4-cylinder and Brinkley Performance Pure Stock 4-Cylinder.

The West Auto Sales & Salvage UCAR division, short for You Can Afford to Race, takes the place of the pure stock bomber division at ECMS. The track dropped that division due to rising costs and dwindling car counts. ECMS race director Brian Whitehurst thinks the UCAR division will renew interest in low-cost racing in Robersonville.

&uot;In order for the race track to be able to make it, you have to have your local people involved,&uot; Whitehurst said. &uot;The more local people we can get to build cars, the more local people will come to see them race.&uot;

UCAR rules call for front-engine, front-wheel-drive import or domestic cars built since 1980. Cars can have a wheelbase of no more than 105 inches, can be fuel injected or carbureted, but can have no more than two valves per cylinder.

The only modifications allowed are for safety, such as a four-point roll cage and aluminum racing seat.

The super stock 4-cylinder division has a new name, but the rules remain the same. The name better reflects the cars, which are less stock than traditional stock 4-cylinder machines, Whitehurst said.

The 2005 season begins April 2 and ends Oct. 1. The track will be closed for NASCAR night races May 14, July 2, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10. The full schedule is available online at ecmsracing.com/schedule.html.

The 2005 rules are available online in portable document format at ecmsracing.com/ECMS2005RULES.pdf.

ECMS is west of Robersonville on U.S. 64 Alt. For more information, call (252) 795-3438, (252) 795-3968 or visit ecmsracing.com.