CONCORD, N.C. — Jack Lehner enters the World of Outlaws World Finals with the chance to accomplish goals he dreamed of since racing go-karts with his dad.
The Saratoga Springs, N.Y., native is currently 10th in the Super DIRTcar Series points standings — two points ahead of Tim Sears Jr. If he can stay there by the end of the championship weekend, he’ll earn his career-best points finish in his third full-time year on the tour — he’s finished 12th the last two years.
“It was kind of our goal setting into this year, finishing top 10 in points,” Lehner said. “It definitely helps if you can be in the top 10 at the end of the year. That was kind of our goal.
“We’re looking to have forward progress, obviously. It’s really tough to race against the best guys every week. They have a lot of experience on me. If we could finish off strong and be in the top 10, that would definitely be a nice way to cap off the year.”
Lehner started off the season well, placing third the second night of DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in February and then backing it up with a seventh-place finish on night four. When the championship season started, Lehner went on to claim three top-10 finishes in points-paying races — his most recent was a seventh-place finish at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
After performing below his expectations at the 50th Running of NAPA Super DIRT Week with a 21st-place finish in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200, Lehner has recalibrated his focus for the World of Outlaws World Finals.
“I’m going down there to try to get us a win,” Lehner said. “I’m really hungry. I’m really hungry for a series win. I’m really hungry for a big win. I haven’t had a big win in a long time. That’s pretty much it for me. The way I look at it, we’ve got three shots at it, and I want to be driving north with a trophy in the truck.”
In addition to making sure his equipment is primed and fine-tuned come race day, and his track approach is solidified, Lehner knows there is one more essential element that will be vital in battling his way to his first series win.
“A lot of it [racing] is mental, for sure,” Lehner said. “Confidence is a huge thing … If you have been running good, and you’re confident in the car, confident in the changes you want to make, and you’re confident in your driving, it makes all the difference then if you are second guessing the whole time … It separates the really, really good guys from the just okay guys.”
Lehner and the rest of the stars of the Super DIRTcar Series will their first night of competition at the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 2. The event will continue through Nov. 5.