Jared Irvan, the 17-year-old son of 1991 Daytona 500 champion Ernie Irvan, scored his first career Pro All Stars Series (PASS) win at Anderson Motor Speedway (South Carolina) on Friday night.
Irvan, who has been racing in the PASS South tour for three years, started the 125 lap race in the seventh position and raced his way to the front of the field. Irvan made the pass for the lead inside the final 10 laps and pulled away from Roger Lee Newton and Clay Rogers to score the victory.
“It felt really good,” Irvan said of his first career Super Late Model win. “I didn’t really think I had the car to win when we started the race or even during the closing stages. The car came to life, I found a groove and got by them.”
Irvan’s victory is also a confidence booster. In the past, he had come close to victories at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, South Boston Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park, but he had not been able to seal the deal. Now, Irvan has the confidence that he, as a driver, can win races.
“It kind of helps me know that I’m able to win,” Irvan remarked. “I’ve been close and had the car to do it but we haven’t closed the deal.”
The victory has even more meaning coming on Father’s Day Weekend. Jared’s father, Ernie, 56, was a winner 15 times in the elite NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
“My dad was really happy in victory lane,” Jared Irvan stated. “It’s a great father’s day present. He seemed really happy.”
The victory was every bit as sweet for the former NASCAR superstar.
“It was an awesome win,” Ernie Irvan said. “He did a great job. It’s a track he really likes and it couldn’t come at a better place.”
The elder Irvan is all too familiar with the trials and tribulations of stock car racing, but he is now able to watch his son race and there is nothing better for him than watching his son come home a winner after multiple seasons of trying.
“I always look at it like I can’t race any longer. I got older and I can’t really do it. There’s nothing better than to watch my son out there doing it and doing a good job and being part of his racing.”
While Irvan has been a mainstay in PASS, he does plan to branch out and compete in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Super Late Model Tour. He said he plans to make his CARS Tour debut on August 29th at Concord Speedway.
