ROANOKE, VA :: Wesley Thomason is hoping to score his first victory since 2010 in Sunday’s Racing Dynamiks 200 at Franklin County Speedway after a difficult offseason that brought changes to his racecar but also a difficult family loss.

In February, Wesley’s father, Bobby, passed away.  Bobby had been a longtime fixture at the track helping Wesley and Wesley’s younger brother Cary chase their dreams.

“It definitely won’t be the same without him and the first race pulling in the gate on race day without him will be the hardest because he never missed a race,” Thomason said.  “He was the one that got me started in racing and I wouldn’t want to do anything more than come out of the gate this season and win the opener”

To win the race and win the championship, Wesley knows he’s going to have to beat his best friend and fellow competitor Kyle Dudley.  Dudley has won three track championships and dominated the 2013 season en route to his third track championship at Franklin County Speedway.

“My expectations are to go out here and beat Kyle Dudley,” Thomason remarked.

Thomason had a chance to bring an end to his dry spell last September after a thrilling duel with Jake Keaton.  Thomason restarted in the lead in a green-white-checkered finish but was overtaken by Keaton in the final turn.  Thomason often replays that race in his head and feels that was a win that got away.  It also gives him confidence, however, that 2014 could be a breakout season for him.

“It still crosses my mind man,” Thomason explained.  “You know, I haven’t won since 2010.  We’ve been on a dry streak.  This year, we’ve got better equipment, got good people helping us and got sponsors jumping on board so I feel that this year will be a breakout season.”

Wesley Thomason began racing in 2007 in the U-CAR division and has been racing ever since with the help of his father and the rest of his family.

“It’s a drug, we all know, it’s addicting.”

When the green flag drops on Sunday afternoon’s Racing Dynamiks 200 at Franklin County Speedway, there’s no doubt Thomason will be a factor and will certainly be a popular fan favorite.