Dillon Bassett Takes Familiar #44 to Caraway Speedway

Father and son in Victory Lane at Hickory. Photo by: Drew Hierwarter

Rookie Dillon Bassett is hoping to break his tough luck this weekend at Caraway Speedway in his #44 Bassett Racing machine, the same number his father, Ronnie Bassett Sr., raced at their home track year ago.

Dillon Bassett prepares himself to enter the UARA-STARS triple header starting this weekend with the Racing Electronics 150 at Caraway Speedway. Coming off bad luck suffered from a broken hub at Newport, Bassett is seeking redemption with a solid run. After nine races this season, Dillon Bassett not only finds himself leading rookie of the year standings, but also remains second in points behind veteran Travis Swaim.

After test sessions last weekend, the team is geared up to head to Caraway for Saturday’s race. Bassett took his #44 Roof Shampoo Ford on track briefly Friday before rain fell, and returned to the track Saturday morning. “My car was a little tight, but overall handles well. I know my team will work hard to make the necessary changes and we should have a strong car come race time,” said Dillon Bassett.

Going into Caraway, Bassett is looking to improve on his qualifying efforts. This season his average starting position is 11th with his best effort of 5th at Rockingham and Newport. However, moving up the field is a challenge Dillon Bassett is plenty capable of accepting, as he won numerous races at Ace Speedway last season starting on the tail.

Like older brother Ronnie, Dillon started racing at age eight. In Ronnie’s rookie season, 2010, he was the only rookie to claim a pole. Although the younger Bassett has yet to capture a pole, the 15 year old has already one upped that effort by winning a race in his rookie season. Having always run under the Bassett Racing banner, family is extremely important to Dillon Bassett. He carries his father’s familiar #44, and that is particularly meaningful for the young driver this weekend at their home track, Caraway. Ronnie Bassett Sr., the key component to Bassett Racing and his son’s successes, is a former Caraway winner in various divisions including late models.

This weekend, Bassett will take on point leader Travis Swaim on the vary track his father raced against him several years prior. Despite some tough luck, the Bassett Racing team has been able to maintain their point position and rookie of the year lead among eight solid contenders this season. Dillon Bassett remains focused knowing solid runs and smart racing is crucial to getting back to victory lane.

Follow @Dillon_Bassett on Twitter and @BassettRacing1 for live track updates.