In the course of one year, 12-year-old Nick Stroupe has proven that he is one of the toughest drivers to beat in the Pro Challenge Series. That point was made Easter Weekend 2007, when in his first-ever Pro Challenge start, the then-11-year-old finished sixth in a stout field of Pro Challenge machines.

Two starts later, Stroupe earned his first-ever Pro Challenge victory. From there, the success kept piling up in the form of three overall victories in just seven starts in 2007 and a win to start off his chase for the 2008 Pro Challenge National Championship bid at Orlando SpeedWorld (FL) in February.

With a pole and a second-place finish on Easter Weekend 2008, March 22 nd 's Easter Bunny 30 event at Hickory Motor Speedway (CT), Stroupe has shown that over the course of one year, he is the real deal and a legitimate threat for the 2008 Pro Challenge National title and Pro Challenge North region crown.

“Everyone says second is the first loser, but finishing second here today isn't so bad because it will really help in the point race as we go for the championship this year,” said Stroupe following

the Hickory event. “We have all season to get wins, so coming out here and having a good shot at the victory was a real momentum builder.”

Stroupe blistered the Pro Challenge field in qualifying, earning the young driver's second-career Pro Challenge pole. When the green flag flew in the 30-lap feature, Stroupe dropped the hammer and pulled away for the lead. He held on to the top spot until getting beat on a lap-13 restart. From there, Stroupe hounded the race leader. In fact, he poked his nose beneath the lead machine in the corners before eventually falling just a few feet short at the checkered flag.

“I was catching him a little bit, but the car pushed way up coming off turn four. I couldn't quite get to him, but it was still a good run for us. It's a long season and since we're going for the championship this year, we didn't want to push the issue too much in battling for the lead. I think I would've had him if the race was a little longer, but I'd rather finish second than take a chance I didn't need to take.”

Nick Stroupe will be back in action at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, GA, on March 29 th , the same backdrop of his first career Pro Challenge win last September. The event is the fifth race on the Pro Challenge South schedule.