“If you’d told me back then that leaving a World of Outlaws caliber team with (Jesse) Keen and going to Heffner’s 28-foot trailer with minimal equipment would be my saving grace, I think I might have laughed at you,” Pittman said. “Somehow, we made it work. We just clicked, man. I knew the first night I drove his car that it was the right move. We had a great two-and-a-half years together and won a lot of races together. I really enjoyed driving for him and was really proud of what we accomplished together.

“That was what got me started back on the path to the Outlaws.”

Roughly eight weeks before the 2012 season, Pittman caught wind of the possibility that Joey Saldana would be let go from Kahne’s flagship No. 9 car. He shot a text to Kahne asking about the ride’s availability and whether he could be considered for it.

“The response I got was that yes, they were making a driver change and that yes, I was on the short list of options they were considering,” Pittman recalled. “I don’t even think it was a week later … and he called me and offered me the ride in that very first phone call.”

From there, Pittman’s magical run to the championship began. He won on opening night at the DIRTcar Nationals at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park in February and never trailed in points en route to the title.

“To lead (the points) from the first race to the last race and lead it all is something you just dream about,” Pittman noted. “I could have never pictured that kind of a season in my first year back on the road, but it was a special time for all of us with the No. 9 team. That’s the kind of magic year that you dream of as a little kid and can only hope to achieve in reality, but we did it and it’s something I’m still so proud of today and will always be appreciative of.”

Despite a 14-win campaign the next year, Pittman was runner-up to Schatz in the championship. He dropped to fourth in points with only five wins in 2015 before rebounding to second in the standings the following year.

The 2017 season was when things got rocky, however. Pittman went winless until the month of August and only scored three victories all season.

“It pisses you off running second,” Pittman said. “You want to win. I don’t think I ever went as long into a season without a win as I did last year. It’s tough, but it’s tough to win races out here. You can’t take anything for granted, because you never know when your last one will be. They are all difficult. It’s a tough series to win with and it has been since long before I got started in it.”

With five wins this season and new sponsor, ionomy, onboard with the No. 9 team, Pittman is optimistic about where the team is heading into the closing stages of the year.

Pittman attributes much of their recent success to his continually growing chemistry with the group, including Adams, after the departure of longtime crew chief Kale Kahne at the end of 2016.

“We’re working well together,” Pittman said of Adams. “When you work with someone for an extended period like I did with Kale, you find a comfort level and a communication for what works and what doesn’t … and I think it has just taken a little bit of time to build that back up with the team we have now and find that sweet spot.

“We got rolling there in April and really came on strong. When you get times like that with the Outlaws, you have to capitalize on them and get as much as you can get, because things can change so fast in this series and someone can get hot really quickly. You always hope that you’re the one that does, but you never know.”

While Pittman might wish he hadn’t had to go through all the trials and tribulations that he has to return to prominence on the national racing scene, he knows the journey has made him a stronger and more complete driver.

“Each year brings on its own set of new challenges, but even when things aren’t going how I want them to, I still love racing and the challenges that go with trying to be successful,” said Pittman. “There is no feeling like winning and that’s what keeps me hungry. Once you have tasted success you want to do it again.

“I think about my time in Pennsylvania quite often … but never as a motivation factor. It is part of who I am and part of my journey to where I am today, just like the last five years have been. When I was away from the Outlaws, I accepted the fact that if nothing came up my racing career could be over … and I was OK with that. I think that peace of mind is what helped me refocus and get back to where we are now.

“It has certainly been quite the journey, but it is one that I’m grateful for and I’m looking forward to the chapters that are still to come.”