Mike Darne was one of the more underrated drivers in Late Model Stock Car racing until an electrifying performance at Martinsville Speedway last October.  Now, Darne is getting set to take on a new challenge as he is ready to go racing in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) touring series.

Darne, 43, will race in both the CARS Late Model Stock Tour and the CARS Super Late Model Tour in 2015 on an at least part-time basis.  Darne’s venture into Super Late Model racing will be a first for the 2002 Old Dominion Speedway track champion.  His first race in the Super Late Model will likely be at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina, a track he’s logged a lot of laps at.

“I can’t wait to get in it,” Darne said.  It’s what I wanted to do for years and now I’ve got the opportunity.  Just seems fit to go to a track I’ve got a lot of laps at for my first time versus going somewhere I don’t have a lot of laps at.”

When asked about transitioning back and forth between a Late Model to a Super Late Model on race day, Darne says he’s not really sure what to expect since he’s never raced a Super Late Model.

“I don’t know the major differences between the two but I don’t think it will be that complicated to get from one to the other,” Darne remarked.

As of now, Darne says he doesn’t know whether he’ll run the full CARS Tour schedule.  He will start his racing season off on Sunday at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina and then run some other races at NASCAR tracks as well.

“We’re kind of up in the air on the Late Model side,” Darne explained.  “We’re running Caraway this weekend and a few South Boston races and the Motor Mile races.  We’re not just only doing CARS.  Once we’ve run a few CARS and NASCAR races, we’ll sit and see where we’re at.  If we’re in contention for either one, we’ll go with that.  If we’re not in contention for either one, we’ll just go race.”

The CARS Tour has presented another unique challenge to the veteran.  The series will be allowing bump stops and coil-binding, something Darne is not familiar with.

“The tour is going to be a little different because of being on the bump stops and I haven’t tested the car yet,” Darne commented.  “I think we should be competitive in it.  There’s a lot to learn.  It’s a different package than what we’re used to running but we have the resources and the right people helping us so I think we’ll be able to be a contender.”

With the first race being at Southern National, Darne feels like he should be able to win right out of the gate – but he also recognizes the level of competition that will be racing in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour.

“There’s a good chance for me to get a win right out of the bat but you’ve got Jamey Caudill and Tommy Lemons, you’ve got guys that are very strong with the same feeling I have.  Deac McCaskill’s running and you know how good he is there.  It comes down to who figured out this bump stop stuff out the first week.  Jamey’s got a hands up on everybody.  Bradley’s done a lot of bump stop stuff as well so he’ll be tough too.”

The first race for the CARS Tour will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina.