PASS South Series: Austin Theriault
Dillon Motor Speedway Race Preview

THE STORY
FORT KENT, Maine – Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, makes his 2013 PASS South Series debut in the South Carolina Clash 150 at Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon, S.C., on Saturday, March 9. The driver of the Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Ford Fusion won in his last start in a PASS-sanctioned Super Late Model race last October, when Theriault won the PASS North Series season finale at Oxford (Maine) Plains Speedway. Theriault, the BKR development driver in his second full season with the organization owned by 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, led several laps in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Speedfest 200 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Ga., in January before he was wrecked out of the Top-5 by another competitor in the late stages of the event. This will be Theriault’s first career start at Dillon Motor Speedway.

THE FACTS
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Ford Fusion
CREW CHIEF: Gary Crooks, Mooresville, N.C.
BEST CAREER DILLON MOTOR SPEEDWAY FINISH: N/A
LAST RACE AT DILLON MOTOR SPEEDWAY: N/A
WHAT: PASS South Series South Carolina Clash 150
WHERE: Dillon Motor Speedway, Dillon, S.C. (.4-mile oval)
WHEN: Friday, March 8 – 3 p.m., practice; Saturday, March 9 – 11 a.m., practice; 3:15 p.m., qualifying; 7 p.m. (approx.), race
PASS South Series
NEXT RACE: March 16, PASS 150, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (.563-mile oval)

DID YOU KNOW?

Austin Theriault finished 13th in his most recent Brad Keselowski Racing start at the ARCA/CRA Super Series Speedfest 200 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in January, after qualifying in the Top-10, leading laps and running in the Top-5 in the late stages of the event.

Austin Theriault moved to North Carolina in the offseason and works at Brad Keselowski Racing during the week.

Austin Theriault finished third in the prestigious Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in each of the last two seasons, becoming the youngest podium finisher in the 40-year history of the race in 2011.

Austin Theriault finished in the Top-3 in the final ACT Late Model Tour standings in each of the last two seasons.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Ford Fusion, On getting back to the track this weekend for the first time since January: “I’m looking forward to it. I thought we had a great run at Watermelon (Capital Speedway). We didn’t get the finish that we wanted and we had some tough luck in the race, but that’s what racing’s about – not everything is going to happen the way you want it to. But I felt like we came out of that race on a strong note. The whole team jelled, and we were continuing the momentum we had at the end of last season as a team.

“We went to Dillon and Myrtle Beach (Speedway) and did some testing last week. It was my first time at the tracks, but I left feeling like we were going to have something this week.”

On keeping the momentum going despite some breaks in the racing schedule: “Continuing with good momentum is all about reflecting on what the team is doing well – finding what the team is doing well or the driver figuring out what no other drivers are doing – and improving on it. It’s about doing whatever it takes to find an edge.

“For me, I try to reflect on the race that went by and try to focus on what went well and what maybe didn’t so that we can improve it. Right now, pretty much everything’s going well for us. On the other hand, I highlight the things that can be improved or that I need to work on as a driver. I have a list that I take to every race, and I try and work on those and keep getting better.”

On returning to PASS-sanctioned competition this weekend: “I’ve enjoyed running the PASS South races before. We ran Concord (Motorsports Park) last season, and I enjoy running with the series. There’s some good competition. But I’m just looking forward to getting back in the groove. I feel like we have a couple of tracks coming up in these next two weeks where we can run for wins. (Crew chief Gary Crooks) has a strong notebook for Dillon, so it will be fun.

“This race coming up is one that I would be disappointed with nothing less than being in contention for a win. There’s only so much that’s in our hands when the green flag drops, but if we can capitalize on all the opportunities and make sure we don’t make any mistakes, I feel like we’ll have something.”

UP NEXT
The PASS South Series returns to action with the PASS 150 at Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Saturday, March 16… Austin Theriault will make his second straight start in a PASS South event at the race. It will be his first start at the historic facility.