Charlotte, NC — Blake Lehr has never been one to back down from a challenge. For 2008 that challenge will be a lofty one, competing in the ultra-competitive Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division. At just 17 years of age Blake has already accomplished a lot in his young career. In 1999 at the age of 8, Blake began his racing career driving a 345-pound, 11 horsepower Ultramax Go-Kart. In 2005 he finished second nationally on the dirt tracks of the World Karting Association, taking four state championships in Florida. In 2006 it was off to the Open Wheel Modifieds of the Gulf Coast Modified division. 2007 saw Blake racing full-time driving Super Late Models in Florida’s Sunbelt Series, earning one win and eight top five finishes on the way to fifth in the point standings. And now, Blake Lehr and has family have moved from Florida to Waxhaw, NC, ready to challenge for the 2008 PASS South Super Late Model championship.
“We first heard about the PASS Series in 2006 when some of their drivers came down to Florida to race in SpeedFest,” said Lehr. “I was really impressed by how competitive the PASS drivers were and that made us think that we needed to begin traveling ourselves.”
While racing in the Sunbelt Series, Lehr was able to travel to a few different race tracks racing drivers predominantly from Florida. Blake and his team are very aware that the 2008 season with the PASS South Series will be tough, racing at a variety of different tracks on the 14 race schedule with drivers from all across the country.
“I like the diversity of the different tracks we’ll be going to and trying to figure out the best way to get around them,” said Lehr. “I think it’s cool when you race at a quarter-mile like Wake County and then go to a big, flat half-mile like Greenville-Pickens, racing on old asphalt versus new. It’s fun.”
Lehr is already scouting out some of the venues that will be new to him, having recently visited the Hickory Motor Speedway for the first time. Blake thinks he will be well prepared when the 2008 PASS South season kicks off on March 22nd with the 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150.
“I’ve never raced at Hickory, but it looks like a really fun track and I’m excited to go there,” said Lehr.
At Hickory, Lehr will have former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Glenn Allen, Jr. in his pits offering advice gained through three Nationwide Series starts there as a driver. “Having Glenn with us at Hickory will be huge since he’s raced there before and he knows some of the tricks that Hickory can throw at you,” said Lehr.
The PASS South Series isn’t all that Blake will be gunning for in 2008. He has plans to race in the PASS Champion’s Series as well. The Champion’s Series begins at Hickory in March, and then it’s off to Orange County for the Southern Sizzler on July 19th, followed by the PASS 400 weekend at Beech Ridge in Scarborough, ME on September 21st, concluding at Greenville-Pickens with The Howler 150 on October 18th. Blake also plans to attempt to qualify for the $30,000 to win, DNK Select 250 at Wiscasset (ME) Raceway on August 17th.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Lehr. “It reminds me of the old go-kart days when we used to travel to New York and all over the place. I love to race and I think it’s going to be great racing at all of these tracks and showing the Northern guys what us guys from the South can do on their home turf.”
Besides Blake’s busy schedule, his goals are big. Just being there and making races is not going to be good enough for the young Floridian.
“In PASS South, I’d love to win the championship and rookie of the year award,” said a confident Lehr. “I think we can do it and I just want to represent our marketing partners the best we can and have fun doing it.”
The key is fun. And if Blake Lehr and his family run team can say that at the end of 2008, they just might be able to accomplish everything they hope to.
Sources: PASS PR.