Jeff Blaser Photo | Blaser Photography

Second in a series of four introducing the Dells Raceway Park Rookies of the Year

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (November 7, 2011) - If you can't beat them, join them. If you've already joined them, beat them.

Lyndon Station's Nick Lange has been part of the winning equation for Bill Zeman and Dave Trute over the past two seasons. This season, he decided to jump behind the wheel himself.

With the past experiences of Trute and Zeman to guide him, and a lot of hard work, Lange preserved through rough patches in his season to claim Rookie of the Year honors in the Schultz Small Engine Pure Stocks.

"I've known Bill since he started racing," Lange said. "I worked on his crew. Then we built the car for Dave. I wanted to give it a try so they put me in there."

Where most drivers have the experience of working through the ranks to start a racing career, Lange jumped directly into the entry-level class last season. "The only (racing) experience I had was the first three races last year," Lange said. "The only experience I had working on cars was helping Bill when he got into it three years ago. We just kind of went in blind."

Jumping in without much experience seemed to have little effect on Lange. Just four races into the season, Lange held off his teammates Trute and Zeman to claim his first feature win.

"It felt great. I didn't expect to get into Victory Lane that soon," Lange said. "It made all of the work worth while."

A move to the driver's seat did not mean a move away from the shop, however. Through the 2011 season Lange not only worked to maintain his ride, but also kept up the maintenance on Trute's and Zeman's rides, which finished first and second in final Pure Stock points. Lange finished fifth.

"With different work schedules there are different parts of the year where things are slow and we aren't working as much," said Lange who is a service technician for Hillestad Heating and Cooling. "It happens to work out in spring that I'm not as busy so I put in the time in the shop."

Perhaps the rough patches were a reflection of the amount of work Lange put into his teammates cars. Through the season all three lost an engine and Zeman was involved in a massive wreck after the checkered flag toward the end of the season. No matter what the case, all three cars competed in the Pure Stocks each week.

"With three cars there is always one that you work on more than the other," Lange explained. "There were some weeks where there just wasn't enough time. It was nobody's fault. It was just the way things worked. It's a struggle, but you just get done what you can every week."

Working as closely with Trute and Zeman had its advantages as the two were always available to give advice to Lange at the track. When luck was on his side, Lange was a top contender each night.

"I felt I did great in my first year. I didn't expect to do as good as I did, but a lot of that has to do with the team," Lange said.

Lange hopes to continue his racing career with another full season in the Pure Stock division. "Being a year into it, I don't feel like I'm ready to move up yet. I would like to give it another go."

When he does return to the Pure Stocks, Lange feels he has some good advice for himself regarding the patience he hopes to show behind the wheel. "Sometimes slower is faster," he said.

In addition to the help from Trute and Zeman, Lange was also assisted by his brothers Mason and Ryan Weyh.

Lange was sponsored by Hillestad Heating and Cooling, Weyh's Window Washing and MSR Chassis.