Nicole Behar made history in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West tour in 2015, becoming the highest finishing female in a NASCAR touring series race. Now, Behar is looking to make more history in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) and the Pro All Stars Series (PASS).
Behar, 17, from Otis Orchards, Washington, will be racing for David Gilliland Racing in the CARS Super Late Model Tour and the PASS South Super Late Model Series. The west coast driver brings popularity with her as she heads east.
Last season, Behar earned most popular driver honors in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West while also scoring a second place finish in a K&N West race at Irwindale, California – the highest finish for a female racer in a NASCAR touring series race.
“I am very excited to team up with Toyota and David Gilliland Racing for the 2016 season, providing me not only the opportunity to run the CARS Tour and PASS Series, but a great experience beneficial to my racing career,” Behar said in a David Gilliland Racing press release. “I believe that DGR has the equipment, resources and knowledge capable to run up front.”
Behar’s season debut will be on March 5th in a PASS Super Late Model Series race at Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon, South Carolina. After that, she will continue to race part-time in the PASS South Series and full-time in the CARS Tour, which begins its season on April 2nd at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina.
Behar expects to be as competitive this season in the CARS Tour and in PASS competition.
“This year, my expectations for the CARS Tour and the PASS Series is run up front, contend for wins and to get as much seat time as possible,” Behar told Race22.com.
In addition to her Super Late Model schedule, Behar also plans to race in select races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
“Along with the full Super Late Model schedule I will be running select NASCAR K&N Pro Series races as well as some races on the west coast,” Behar said. “We are focusing on getting me as much seat time as possible working with multiple racing series.”
Behar’s success in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series has boosted her profile. Last year, she was one of only a handful of young drivers named in the NASCAR NEXT class and earned respect for her strong performances.
With her move to the CARS Tour and PASS South tour, Behar will have the benefit of quality equipment racing with David Gilliland Racing. Gilliland’s team fielded Late Model Stock Cars for Todd Gilliland and RD Smith in 2015 as well as Super Late Models for Todd Gilliland.