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Doar Enjoys Winning NASCAR Championship

By Tim Southers, NASCAR, 02/22/16, 4:45PM CST

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In the world of NASCAR racing today it seems a lot of the news comes from successful young drivers, and while it’s important to celebrate the achievements of up-and-coming talent, veterans are still get it done too.

A perfect example of that during the 2015 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season was the performance of Pat Doar at Cedar Lake Speedway. 

The 52 year-old driver rebounded from a back injury suffered in early June and made the most of his opportunities during the six-race NASCAR Dash program at the historic speedway to win another NASCAR championship. 

The injury was one that could have cost Doar any chance of a successful season as he was out of commission for a period of time trying to get his back to heal properly so he could return to action.

“I was down in traction with my back in June and missed a couple of special events at the track,” Doar said. “I can’t thank Mark and Johnny Emerson enough for helping me out with the car, especially while I was recovering from my back trouble.”

Doar was mounting a tire when he felt something pop in his back and that kept him out of the No. 11 Speedwerx/S&S Transport/Capital Race Car/Pro Power Engines car.

“Thankfully I was able to get back behind the wheel in time for the NASCAR dash,” Doar added. “There is no way I could have come back ready to race without their help.”

The NASCAR Dash is a series of six races used to determine the track champion in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Cedar Lake.

Doar won three of those races with four top fives and top 10s in all six features. The track ran a pair of sanctioned events for three consecutive months in June, July and August.

“We had some good luck and were able to tune up our new Capital car and go fast right off of the trailer,” Doar said. “Things just worked out for us this year at Cedar Lake.”

Doar started racing in his late 20s and has enjoyed racing in Wisconsin while also competing in the winter months in Arizona. He started driving a Street Stock 25 years ago and has been driving a dirt late model since 1994.

“It’s been a great journey, and like anything we’ve had some ups and downs, but I want to thank my wife Nancy who’s been married to me since 1994,” Doar said. “She’s been with me through it all and I couldn’t have done anything without her support and I really appreciate her support.”

There was a time a few years back when Doar questioned his ability to win, and he was able to work with Capital Race Cars owner Marshall Green and Shane Clanton who helped him get back to winning on the track.

“I really appreciate what those guys did for me because they gave me a fast car and made me look good on the race track again,” Doar said. “There for a while I wondered if I would ever win another race.”

Doar enjoys racing all over the country but lives just nine miles from Cedar Lake Speedway and loves to call that track his home.

“I want to thank the Kaufman brothers (Bob, Chuck, and Steve) and Brad Both for giving us racers a nice place to race and for bringing NASCAR to the track,” Doar said. “They give us a nice points fund with their NASCAR Dash program and NASCAR and Whelen Engineering do a great job rewarding their champions.”

Cedar Lake Speedway will kick off its 59th season of racing on Saturday, April 8 and the first NASCAR Dash event will take place on Saturday, June 11.