Meghan Dillner has learned what it was like to be a runner-up in Pro Challenge Series competition.  Her pattern of late had been to finish second... repeat... and repeat again, but on Saturday night, she learned something newer and better.  That was the feeling of victory.

After three straight runner-up finishes in her three most recent National Pro Challenge events (dating back to November of '08), Dillner did what she nor any other BDI Racing teammate had been able to accomplish in more than four years of the team's competition – win at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina.  She won her first-ever Pro Challenge event, plus the team's first-ever triumph at Hickory, which made it a double-shot of excitement for the 15-year-old driver and her crew.

“This is so amazing,” said Dillner in victory lane.  “Everyone always told me, ‘You're going to love winning because it's the best feeling in the world, but you can never imagine it until you do it.  

“Pulling into victory lane, I swear I was the happiest girl in the whole world.  There were fans in the stands cheering me was amazing and my whole family ran through the grandstands to get to me in victory lane.”

Earlier in the day at Hickory, Dillner also won her first-career Pro Challenge pole position in qualifying.  From there, Dillner led all 30 laps to win at HMS, a feat that no other BDI Racing driver had done in their years of competing there in Pro Challenge, Legends Cars and Super Late Models.

“We've raced several times here before, but it's incredible to win here because I love this track.  I had two different cars behind me that were pretty quick today.  I had to battle with them all race long, but hey, that's racing and honestly, it made the race more fun. 

“To be the first BDI driver to win a race at Hickory is so incredible.  I'm so proud to represent my team this way.  I have great supporters in Racing Electronics and Chevrolet, spotter (Matt Kentfield), crew chief (Dustin Archer) and my whole family was here; I'm so glad they were here with me tonight.”

Making the event even more memorable for Dillner was that she won the pole and led all the laps for victory, which earned her the most points possible.  While official National Points will not be released until later in the week, the victory is sure to put Dillner atop the standings with only two National Point events remaining on the schedule.

“It was a perfect night.  Our whole goal for this year in Pro Challenge is to go after that National Championship.  This is definitely a step in the right direction.  Hopefully I'll be able to get another couple of wins this year and win that championship.  I had two second-place finishes under my belt this year and tonight we won the pole and led every lap.  That's the best you can do for National Points.”

While winning at Hickory was memorable, one important member of Dillner's family could not be at Hickory.  Bob Dillner, BDI Racing team owner, was in New Hampshire covering the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for SPEED when his daughter made it to victory lane at Hickory, but a couple of phone calls made for a great night for both father and daughter.

“I was covering a race a White Mountain Motorsports Park in New Hampshire when I got the news,” said Dillner.  “She called from victory lane and Dennis Michelson was nice enough to allow me to talk to her on RaceTalkRadio.com while I was announcing a race that night.  On Sunday, so many people from NASCAR and the teams were approaching me with congratulations as I was working for SPEED.  It was an awesome feeling.  She has worked so hard for this; she's an honor roll student and such a sweet kid.  She loves racing.  And man, she couldn't have done it without guys like Duke and Dustin.  I am just so proud of her.”

“That was awesome,” said Meghan Dillner.  “I was actually supposed to call into a radio show after the race and I had no idea it was going to be my dad on the other end in New Hampshire talking to me.  It was so cool getting interviewed by him over the phone.  I only got a few seconds to call him in victory lane; just enough time to scream into the phone, ‘I won daddy, I won.'  It stinks that he wasn't able to be here for my first victory tonight, but I know he's happy for me up in New Hampshire and that's all that matters.”

Dillner now has a little off-time before her next Pro Challenge National Point event, which comes on August 8 th at Orange County Speedway in North Carolina.  But, the young racer won't be out of the seat during that lull, as she will compete in the PASS Late Model Truck series at Hickory Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 5 th , the day before her 16 th birthday.  Dillner will compete at Hickory with her teammate Michael Pope in the BDI Racing Chevrolet Super Late Model that day. BDI Racing also has testing plans for Meghan Dillner in their Super Late Model later this summer with her first start to come down the road.

Based in Concord, North Carolina, BDI Racing is a full-service short track development team that offers a “total package” approach to building strong racers both on the track and off.  BDI Racing has a full fleet of cars from Quarter Midgets, Bandoleros, Legends Cars, Pro Challenge Series cars and Super Late Models.  Several house drivers including Michael Pope and Meghan Dillner make up the core of the BDI Racing development program, but opportunities are available in all facets of BDI Racing's organization for the entire 2009 season.  Contact Matt Kentfield, Director of Racing Operations, at matt@bdiracing.net for more information.