Travis Sharpe

Travis Sharpe is an American crew chief from Martinsville, Virginia, Sharpe has been signed to lead their racing efforts for the 2015 season on both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and selected events on the Tri-Track Super Late Model Series. Sharpe began his duties this week as the team prepares for the season-opening event on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, at Kern County Raceway.

Biography
Behar, with backing from Custom Welding and Fabrication, will compete for the SUNOCO Rookie of the Year award on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West having purchased the equipment of Sharpe’s former team, TTC Racing.

“We have put together a good crew and picking up the equipment from TTC Racing should give us plenty to work with this season,” Behar said. “Having Travis onboard this year is a big help as he built the race cars we’re going to field and did a great job at TTC Racing over the last two years. Our team expects to contend in each race and (Sharpe) will get us up to speed both in the shop and on the track.”

Assembling the parts and pieces that allow Nicole Behar Racing to be part of the NKNPS in 2015 is her father, Mike, who has been crewmember of the series as part of the Monaco Enterprises Race Team and its driver Kevin Richards. Building championship contending equipment and teams the elder Behar has an Inland Northwest Super Stock Association title to his credit along with several championships’ he has led Nicole to in recent years, she noted.

“My dad really has gotten behind this team and our goals to be the best we can in every series we run. He’s been part of top teams in the (NASCAR K&N Pro Series) West and made quite a name for himself when running his own late models. He gives our team what we need to be successful and gets right in there and works hard along with them to be sure we’re ready each week. I’m looking forward to having him alongside us as we go into the 2015 season.”

In Behar’s NKNPSW debut last summer at her home track of Stateline Speedway, the 16-year old equaled the series record for a career finish by a female driver. This season the East Valley High School junior, who also attends Eastern Washington University as part of their Running Start program, is hoping to improve on that mark.

“Getting comfortable in the K&N cars was key for me last year to prepare for our run at the rookie title (in 2015),” she said. “Each time out we ran towards the front of the field, posted solid finishes and learned a lot about the team and myself as a driver. With Travis onboard to give me some advice and set the cars up to be able to run near the front each week I believe we’re going to be shooting for some impressive runs this year.”

Sharpe, who will also led his guidance to Behar at Tri-Track Super Late Model Series events at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval, Evergreen Speedway and Stateline Speedway along with the prestigious Montana 200, likes what he sees at Nicole Behar Racing.

“This team has all the ingredients it takes to be a contender in any race they run whether it’s on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series or a Tri-Track race. (Behar) has a lot of talent, in fact I believe she’s one of the most talented young drivers in the region male or female and our goal as a team is to get her up front and showcase that talent,” he explained.

Behar’s 2015 season kicks off in just over a month as NASCAR’s premier touring division invades Bakersfield, California for 150 laps of competition at one of the country’s fastest half-miles.

“Kern County is a fast racetrack and we’re excited to head down there in a month and give it a go. Travis has had success there with his drivers the last few years, brings good notes to our team from those races and that is a confidence boost for me as we prepare for the upcoming race,” Behar said.

Other information
Travis Sharpe, a Virginia native who now makes his home in Kalispell, Montana, will lead Racing Dynamiks entries in the MDCU 300. Sharpe has wins in the Idaho 200 and Montana Raceway Park’s GET Rich 212 this year with his driver Trevor Edmond.

“I’ve gotten to know Travis over the last couple of seasons and his cars are running very well here in the Northwest,” Havens said. “He’s got success in the big East Coast late model races and we believe that together we’re going to be strong at Martinsville. We’ve tested at (North Carolina’s) Ace Speedway to get ready for the weekend and that went real well. With Gary providing his feedback on adjustments and ideas we’re sure to be solid right off the trailer.”

One of Sharpe’s specialties is setting up a car to have adjustments throughout a race weekend, Havens added.

“I like to be able to have a car that the team can work with to get right on that edge of being fast while also cornering well. This gives me a baseline for consistent lap times and that has been one of the keys to my success in recent years. Travis has really refined Emond’s program with that in mind and it shows in the results. I believe in what he’s going to give Gary and I in Martinsville and can’t wait to get out there and give it a go.”