PINE GROVE, Calif. – After an extended waiting period, James Bickford will finally get his chance to return to a race car this season, teaming with Scott Family Racing to compete with the Pacific Coast Challenge Series.

Bickford, a NASCAR Next alumnus and former star in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West for Bob Bruncati, will pilot a super late model for Matt, Mike and Chuck Scott on a limited basis. His first confirmed race will be at Shasta Speedway on June 23.

“It’s such an honor to know that I’m going to be a part of such a great series with a team like the one that Matt has built,” Bickford told SPEED SPORT. “The Pacific Coast guys have a ton of things going for them and I’ve seen some of that already, with them racing at some of the tracks I ran West Series races at in the past.”

“I’m just so excited to finally be back in a stock car, man. I’ve raced a few Legends car races during the time I’ve been away from the touring series landscape, done some part-time stuff, but to be back in a full-size car and racing super late models again is a big deal, because it’s my roots and how I worked my way up the ranks.”

Scott is a four-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champion in his own right – including three straight titles at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., from 2010 to 2012 – and is looking forward to having Bickford on his team.

“I am really excited to be working with James this season,” said Scott. “He was our first choice when thinking of teammates for the 35 Kamps Propane car. I can’t wait to see what this season has in store.”

Slidebelts and Kamps Propane will sponsor the No. 35 Scott Family Racing entry for Bickford when he debuts at Shasta in June.

Bickford is motivated by the chance to race on home soil in California once again.

“This deal is awesome for me because I’ve actually been to most of the tracks already,” explained Bickford. “When I was racing late models, I was a one-track racer. I never really got outside of my home track in Roseville (All-American Speedway). The K&N Series helped me to expand my horizons a lot.

“To go back there … to go to Stockton, Shasta and Madera again will all be helpful and super special for me. It will mean a lot to see so many of the people who supported my racing career as I was growing up and to perform in front of all of them again.”