News Director 
Story By: BROOKE FRANCESCHINI / NASCAR – SPOKANE, WA – Nicole Behar is making her return to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
After competing in only four events in 2016, Behar will return to full-time competition this year. The 19-year-old from Otis Orchards, Washington, recorded two top-five and four top-10 finishes to finish 20th in the K&N Pro Series West final standings.
“I am excited to be returning to the K&N Pro Series to run the full schedule,” Behar said. “My team has put a ton of time and effort in this off season completely going through, fixing and rebuilding every car we have.
“We also have Kevin Richards on board this season. With the addition of him, his tremendous amount of knowledge and own west racing experience, I have a lot of confidence that we will be better than ever. It is like a dream come true to have both Kevin and my dad making calls. I would like to give a huge shout out to my team, they sacrifice so much of their own time, and some of them, their own racing, to help me, my family and my racing career. I truly am blessed to have them all.”
The NASCAR Next alumni last competed in the series full-time in 2015 when she finished 10th in the final standings with two top fives and nine top 10s. One of those finishes was second-place at California’s Irwindale Speedway, which earned her the title as the highest finishing female in series history.
“We have had a lot of great, solid finishes in the K&N Pro Series West, but have also struggled a bit at some tracks. I believe we should now be very competitive at each and every race,” said Behar.
Last season, Behar took a break from competing full-time in the K&N Pro Series West to compete in select Super Late Model races and ARCA Racing series events. In her ARCA debut at Wisconsin’s Madison International Speedway, she finished third to become the highest finishing female on a short track in series history.
Behar and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will begin the 2017 season with the NAPA 500 Challenge – which features four races in eight days. It will kick off on March 18 at Arizona’s Tucson International Speedway before heading to California’s Kern County Raceway Park and Irwindale Speedway.
“It looks like there will be a lot of strong competition in the K&N Pro Series West,” said Behar, “and I look forward to being part of that and plan on having a great strong season, building on my past accomplishments and records with some wins. I am ready for the season to get underway!”
