HUDSON, NC :: All it took to boost Thomas Beane’s confidence was a late season victory at Lonesome Pine Raceway.  With that win, the 21-year-old driver now knows what it takes to win and hopes he can be successfully in the newly relaunched Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Late Model Stock Tour.

Prior to running at Lonesome Pine Raceway last season, Beane ran two seasons in the now-defunct UARA-STARS Tour.  Beane feels like the experience he gained running at different tracks in that tour, tracks which he will revisit with the CARS Tour, should give him an advantage.

“I don’t know how many people know but it is different going into someone else’s backyard and beating them at their own game,” Beane said.  Even though I didn’t run that well in the UARA tour, I learned a lot last year staying at one place.”

The main thing Beane looks forward to with a full-time stint in the CARS Tour is learning and visiting different racetracks.

“We’re going to a lot of racetracks I’ve never been to before,” Beane remarked.  “I like going to new places, I don’t like staying at the same place every week even though I had fun last year, I like to travel around and see new places.”

Beane scored his first career Late Model Stock Car victory last September.  That victory boosted Beane’s confidence heading into this season.

“Winning gives you a lot of confidence,” Beane explained.  “I mean, you’ve got to learn how to win on a smaller stage before you can win on the big stage.  I at least know if I get in that situation what to do.  I might not be as experienced as some of them but there are kids that haven’t won Late Model races either and I’ve got an edge on them and they run a little rough at Lonesome Pine and I like that kind of racing.  Maybe it will work out down here.”

Even with his confidence, he knows he will face some of the toughest competition in motorsports in the CARS Tour.

“There are going to be some great drivers out there.  I’ve been lapped by the best of them.”

Despite the level of competition, Beane feels like he should be able to score multiple victories in 2015.

“I’m pretty sure I can go back to Lonesome Pine and win a couple.  We have won more last year… With the Ford motor, we’ve got a good shot.  I think we can give them a run for their money at Tri-County as well.  We’re pretty good there.”

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