HICKORY, NC :: Limited Late Model standout Dylon Wilson will be making his debut in the Late Model Stock Car division this weekend in Hickory Motor Speedway’s biggest race of the season, the 38th Annual Bobby Isaac Memorial.
Wilson, who has three wins on the season at two different tracks, is optimistic that he can be competitive in the race. While optimistic, he knows that he will have an uphill climb against more experienced drivers who will have more horsepower under their hoods.
“The plan is to run the Bobby Isaac but we’re not in a 604 motor, we’re running a Hickory little motor,” Wilson said. “Some tracks allow you to run it. Landon Huffman ran it and was able to compete. We get a 100 pound weight break but we’ll be down on horsepower by about 50 horsepower. We tested and were running just as fast as other guys on old tires so I think we’ll be fine.”
Wilson enters the Bobby Isaac Memorial, which will be his Late Model debut, with three wins on the season – two at Hickory and one at Wake County. He’s also raced at Ace Speedway and Caraway Speedway.
“We ran really well at Ace. We started in the back, got up to fourth and then someone drove under us under caution and tore us up. We have run solid at every track we’ve gone to so far.”
Right now, the plan for Wilson is to make his Late Model debut at Hickory and then, if he feels successful in Saturday’s race, finish the season in Late Models or venture out elsewhere in the Limited.
“We plan to run more after this. We’ll run at Hickory so I can get my feet wet. We’ve got to make decisions on the rest of the season. It depends on how we run in this Late Model race. If we’re competitive, and money’s a big thing, we’d like to finish the season in Late Models and go full-time in Late Models next year but I’d be fine with going to Wake County or running in the Southeast Limiteds. We’re looking to see who has big money or longer races and stuff like that.”
One of the things Wilson has become acclimated to in his time in the Limited Late Model division is saving tires and running in long run races.
“Right now, my driving style is for longer races. We’ve had one win on a short run stint. When we won at Wake County, that’s Clay Jones’ house and we beat him and it’s great considering I ran a 603. Last year was my rookie year; I never drove anything but a go-kart prior to that. I didn’t learn the ropes as fast as I should so I went balls to the wall and felt I had old tires and there’s no need to save. Our best races last year were the long races because I started to figure out the tire deal and learned to save tires.
“The first race this season, I went to the front fast. Travis Byrd was faster. We got taken out but that opened my eyes that, maybe if I lay back at first, I can pounce later. I come alive at the end of races. Sometimes you have to make moves early in the race but it’s also a 150 lap race Saturday. We’ll ride and see what happens in the last 50 or 20 laps or something.”
Wilson’s Late Model program may be an in-house operation and he might be down on horsepower, but he could be a surprise contender in the 150 lap Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday.
