NEWTON, NC :: Dillon Bassett went from worst to first to score his first career NASCAR Whelen All American Series (NWAAS) victory in Saturday night’s season opener at Hickory Motor Speedway.  Bassett made the winning pass on Shane Lee on lap 85 in the 100-lap race and held off the field for his first win of the season.

Lee dominated for much of the duration of the race.  However, a lap 45 caution for Kate Dallenbach’s spin bunched the field up and allowed Basset to work his way inside the top-10.  On lap 71, Bassett moved in to the fifth position.  On lap 74, Bassett moved in to fourth.  Three laps later, Bassett moved to third.  The winning move came on lap 85 as the three leaders ran nose-to-tail, allowing Bassett to not only pass Travis Swaim for second but to also get around Lee on the same lap to take the lead.

“The car was unbelievable,” Bassett said.  “I can’t thank the whole Bassett Racing crew enough.  We started 24th and came back and won.”

Bassett was back at it the next day, finishing second to Robert Tyler at Caraway Speedway in a photofinish on Sunday.

After relinquishing the lead, Lee’s car faded in the closing laps allowing Travis Swaim, William Byron and Josh Berry all to get around him.  Byron passed Swaim in the final laps to finish in second with Swaim finishing in third. Brayton Haws finished in sixth while Justin Bolton, Justin Carroll, Peyton Ryan and Bret Holmes rounded out the top-10.

Travis Byrd, who is racing in the memory of his fallen friend Jake ‘Ziggy’ Ziegler, scored the win in a wild Limited Late Model race.

“It’s been way too long,” Byrd said.  “I’ve got to thank God for everything I’ve got.  Also, thanks to Ashley Huffman, Audrey Huffman and Davie Huffman for letting me drive for Dwight Huffman Racing and giving me the best equipment they can.  I can’t thank everyone who helped out enough.  Let’s do our homework and go get them again next week.”

Jeremy Pelfrey finished in second with Ryan Shattuck, Taylor Stricklin and JP Dyar rounding out the top-five.

The next race at Hickory will be on Saturday, March 15th.

Late Model Results

1. #44 Dillon Bassett
2. #9 William Byron
3. #21 Travis Swaim
4. #88 Josh Berry
5. #00 Shane Lee
6. #41 Brayon Haws
7. #15 Justin Bolton
8. #57 Justin Carroll
9. #23 Payton Ryan
10. #5 Bret Holmes
11. #21 Dalton Sargeant
12. #7 Justin Crider
13. #87 Hayden Woods
14. #88 Doug Barnes
15. #2 Paige Decker
16. #14 Akinori Ogata
17. #7 Ashley Huffman
18. #6 Devon Amos
19. #12 Austin McDaniel
20. #25 Kate Dallenbach
21. #75 Landon Huffman
22. #25 Matt Piercy
23. #22 Dan Moore
24. #03 Roddy Sterling, Jr.

Limited Late Model Results

1. #77B Travis Byrd
2. #51 Jeremy Pelfrey
3. #51S Ryan Shattuck
4. #7S Taylor Stricklin
5. #21D JP Dyar
6. #37 Chris Phipps
7. #19 Benji Woodward
8. #1B Trent Barnes
9. #1 Dylon Wison
10. #11 Dillon Houser
11. #18 Casey Pierce
12. #15 Sheflon Clay
13. #3M Everett McMahon
14. #25 Allen Huffman
15. #35 Chris Lewis
16. #9 Charlie Watson