Lucas Ransone had a lot of success in 2009, scoring a win in his rookie season in the USAR Pro Cup Series and scoring the victory in the Myrtle Beach 400.  However, the “Great Recession” forced Ransone away from full-time racing.  Now, Ransone’s returning to compete in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) and he’s hungrier than ever.

The 24-year-old driver from Madison, North Carolina was a regular in the USAR Pro Cup Series in 2009.  That season, he scored his first career top-five finish when he finished second at Langley Speedway, a race that featured an epic four-wide finish and backed that up a few weeks later with his first career win at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Georgia.  Later that year, he scored the biggest win of his racing career in the Myrtle Beach 400.  After that, Ransone seemingly dropped off the racing scene.

“Due to the economics, we couldn’t race as much,” Ransone said.  “I haven’t been able to run because, trying to focus on getting our family company back, now that we’re back, I’ve learned who I can trust, who’s down with me and now I feel comfortable and hungry and when you get stuff handed to you when your dad can pay for it all, you have different views when you can’t go to the racetrack every week.  You have to rebound, regroup and rethink.

“Now that things are getting better in the housing market and we’ve got jobs, we’ve got money to spend in racing again.”

Now, Ransone’s setting his sights on the CARS Tour.  He will compete in the CARS Super Late Model Tour while also running in a limited number of CARS Late Model Stock Tour events.

“We’re planning on running the full schedule in the Super Late Model and building a new chassis and planning on running in the Late Model too.  We’re going to focus on winning the championship in the Super Late Model.”

Ransone is in a unique situation.  While he has extensive experience in the Perimeter Late Model Stock Cars, he’s never raced in a Straight-Rail Super Late Model.

“I’ve never driven a Super Late Model.  We’re in the process of building it.  We’ve got a brand new Hamke.  We’re planning on running both at some races but our main goal is to win the Super Late Model championship.  If it comes down to a battle, we’re not going to run but like two Late Model races, but, we don’t want to take away from our Super Late Model program.

“Why finish second in two races when we can win one?”

Ransone feels the weeks he runs in both the Late Model Stock Car and Super Late Model for a combined total of 300 laps of racing will be a test of endurance but he’s up to the challenge.

“I definitely think it’s going to be tough.  I know a Late Model, it can get hot.  As far as Pro Cup cars, they were the hottest thing I’ve ever driven.  It’s going to be a lot of laps.  Toughest thing will be practicing for the SLM and getting right out and in the LMSC.  Just getting everything right when it needs to be right — it’s fast paced.  You’re going to have to have a lot of people on different cars and make it idiot proof.  If you have everything right, it’s still going to be tough but it will be a whole lot easier.”

Ransone says he’s learned a lot and his appetite for success has made him hungrier than ever.

“I really learned a lot and know what got a whole better view on racing and how you make it to the top.  I would love for racing to be my main source of income … I know there are going to be a lot of veterans and rookies.  I’ve got a different mindset and I’m hungrier than I was in 2009 and throughout my racing career.”