RPW Column: Dan Winter Flying Under The Radar On PASS North Tour For 2021
Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – DEERFIELD, NH – Many people know the top guns of the Pro All Star Series Super Late Model Tour, like Derek Griffith, Johnny Clark, Ben Rowe, defending champion DJ Shaw, and many more.
But one driver has stepped up and has been consistent and a dark horse on the tour.
His name is Dan Winter, reigning out Deerfield, New Hampshire finds himself sitting second in the PASS tour points with three races remaining, and oh by the way, his first full season on the tour is this season.
The 27 year old Dan Winter first got going on the Pro All Star Series Super Late Model Tour in 2018 part-time. In the following two years, Winter started 10 races in 2019 and 9 in 2020.
“I’ve always really wanted to give it a shot to follow the tour for a full season, never really knew when the time was right,” explains Winter “this year we planned on not doing the PASS North Tour full time, to see how the first few races went, and they went well, so we kept going with it.”
For the first full season with the PASS North Tour, Winter has had seven Top 10’s, and with good consistency, finds himself sitting second in the points with three races left.
The Windham, New Hampshire native sits 142 points back behind six time PASS North Champ Johnny Clark, and ahead of 2007 champion Ben Rowe by 43 points. “It’s been really cool and an honor to be able to race and be so competitive the guys and gals on this tour” Winter explained, “They are some of the best in the country.”
“Being in the top 5 points, in this series, it’s huge for our team, we’ve always been a small team,” the New Hampshire native explains, “it’s just a really great feeling to be this competitive on this tour.”
Winter is no stranger to traveling around the region for racing, as he followed the NELCAR Legends Tour and raced Thursday Night Thunder at Beech Ridge as well, before making the transition to the super late models in 2018.
The young hot shoe says it has been interesting traveling around to all the tracks, but Hudson International Speedway has been a little extra special to him.
“Growing up 15 minutes away from Hudson, and getting to race there this year was special, we had really good speed there too,” Dan Winter explains “but we got caught up in a wreck early on, can’t wait to be back there.
“Hardest thing we’ve faced is learning the different tracks and the combination of setups for those tracks,” Winter explained, “then just keeping up with the extra maintenance week in, and week out that is required for the longer distance races.”
The young hot shoe has put up strong battles all year long, his best finish of 2021 and career best finish came in June finishing sixth at White Mountain Motorsports park. Winter is really thankful to be at this point in his career.
“There has been many people who have helped me get me here to this point of my career, but most importantly, my parents have been there the whole way,” Winter explained “they have been there for me on the hard days of racing. Also wouldn’t be where I am without the support of Window World, being a main sponsor since being apart of the series.”
Next stop for Dan Winter will be this Saturday at Thompson Motor Speedway with the PASS North Tour.
