HICKORY, N.C. -- North Carolina racer Nick Loden is heading into this weekend's PRA Tour 602 Super Limited late model event at Hickory Motor Speedway with confidence.  It's not hard to imagine why. From 2006 through 2008, his father Andy dominated the track known as "The Birthplace Of The NASCAR Stars", winning three straight track championships.  
 

This Saturday night, the torch will be passed on to Nick, 14, who is in his first season of stock car racing after racking up over 150 wins, championships and honors in the various divisions of quarter-midget racing.  Coming off of races at Orange County Speedway, where he finished second, and Ace Speedway, where he led several laps before being shuffled back to an eventual sixth place finish, the younger Loden is excited to have his chance to race on a track where his father made his mark alongside some of the all-time legends of the sport, including Ralph Earnhardt, Ned and Dale Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Harry Gant and Jack Ingram.
 

"I've tested at Hickory," Nick said. "But this will be my first time racing there. My father had so much success there that I feel like I will have the best teacher possible in my corner to get me up to speed. I am still learning about how to drive a late model, but I feel like we have come a long way in the last couple of races and we have some momentum going into this race, instead of the frustration we had in the first few races when it seemed like we were just getting wrecked every time. I am looking forward to this weekend and excited to see what we can do."
 

Loden has just a couple of races left after this weekend, with one being at Caraway Speedway and the other one right back at Hickory. 

"I think we are getting better every time out, so hopefully we can keep going in that direction and maybe even win a race or two. I can't thank my team and my sponsors enough, but especially my family.  It takes so much time to maintain the cars and then all the time traveling and at the track. My sister is still running quarter-midgets and I run the late model so my parents sacrifice a lot."   
 

Feature action at Hickory gets underway Saturday night at 7pm. For more information, visit the track's website at www.hickorymotorspeedway.com.   

Motorsports partners for Nick include  AFCO Racing Products, Pro Shocks, RE Suspension and  Longacre Racing Products. 
 

Follow Nick and his racing on Facebook (@NickLodenRacing), Instagram @Nick_Loden_Racing) and via his website at www.NickLodenRacing.com.