Nick Stroupe got off to a flying start to the 2008 Pro Challenge Series season.  He won the first race of the year at Orlando SpeedWorld by a convincing margin, and even though he had mechanical problems in the second race of the year, Stroupe bounced back by winning at Lanier National Speedway (GA) in May and has finished no worse than second in any race since Orlando. 

But after finishing second two straight times, the fierce competitor inside Stroupe wouldn't settle for the runner-up spot again.  Stroupe and the BDI Racing team found their way to victory lane for the third time in 2008 with a dominating performance on Saturday night at Franklin County Speedway (VA), as Stroupe earned the pole and led all 50 laps of the feature by a comfortable margin.

“It's always exciting to win, especially after finishing second at Dillon (SC) and Peachstate (GA),” said Stroupe.  “We came here to bounce back and do everything that we could and we pulled it off.  Dustin (Archer, Crew Chief) and the team had a good setup under my car, plus I had a good night's rest at the Comfort Inn and a good dinner last night at Applebee's in Rocky Mount, Virginia, so we were all hooked up for tonight's race.”

Stroupe left little doubt as to who would be the driver to beat Saturday at Franklin County.  The young racer entered the night's event as the Pro Challenge National Points leader and earned the pole by a comfortable margin in qualifying.  From the drop of the green flag in the 50-lap feature, Stroupe was in command, never having less than an eight-car-length lead over fellow PC National Points contender Clint King, who finished a distant second to Stroupe in the 50 lap event.

“I was just riding there for a little bit.  I was on cruise control for most of the race, but we ended up lapping all but the second-place guy, so getting through the lapped traffic was a little tough.  We lapped some cars several times and it just made it difficult.  We had to weave our way through there.  I knew it would be fun, but there were some challenges.”

The victory not only ended Stroupe's winless drought, but it also extended his National Points lead and put him atop the Pro Challenge North Region standings, as well.

While Stroupe had nothing but good luck on Saturday at Franklin County, the same could not be said for his BDI Racing teammate, Meghan Dillner.  Dillner had an impressive run in qualifying, timing fourth, and had one of the fastest machines on the racetrack earlier in the day in practice.  The Pro Challenge Rookie of the Year contender had high hopes for the feature, but an electrical problem at the start of the race relegated Dillner, who celebrated her 15 th birthday just six days prior to the Franklin County event, to a frustrating ninth-place finish.

“I know the team prepares a great car for both me and Nick every week, so that's why it's frustrating whenever we have some kind of mechanical problem,” said Dillner.  “I really like this track and I was excited about finally being able to race here after getting rained out the last two times we tried to race here but racing luck wasn't going to let me have the fun I was hoping to have here tonight.  I know that we'll bounce back in a couple weeks and hopefully we'll be able to put together the finish that I know I and the rest of the team are capable of.

“But, if I couldn't win, I'm so glad Nick was able to bring the win home for BDI Racing.  Nick is a great kid and he's my best friend, so for him to get back into the winner's circle is awesome for him and the whole team and I'm really proud of him.”

Stroupe currently sits atop the Pro Challenge National Points standings, while Dillner sits fifth in the Rookie of the Year standings, in an abbreviated schedule. 

BDI Racing's Super Late Model house driver Zach Stroupe will hit the track this weekend, July 18 th and 19 th , in the 200-lap Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Series event at Orange County Speedway (NC).  Stroupe enters the Orange County event fourth in the PASS National Standings after finishing fourth in the series' opening event at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) in April.