2012-10-29

2012 Kawartha Speedway Most Improved Driver Awards Presented to Kimball, Crowe and Flindall

By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports Communications

Whether it’s a matter of reaching your comfort level, finding a set-up that’s perfect for the track conditions, being in the right place at the right time – or a combination of all 3 – there’s no feeling that compares with the experience a racecar driver enjoys once they finally land on something that works on a consistent basis.  Taking the step from being a mid-pack runner to a top 10 competitor is an accomplishment every driver dreams of and being rewarded for that achievement can define a career.


Ryan Kimball is no stranger to Kawartha Speedway’s annual awards presentation.  The second generation speedster from Norwood won the track’s Thunder Car championship in 2002 and captured the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model division’s most improved driver award in 2010.  With the success he enjoyed in 2012 – including a runner-up point finish, his long-overdue first main event win and a trip to the American-Canadian Tour Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Kimball was the obvious choice to have his name engraved on the trophy for the second time in 3 years.

The name ‘Crowe’ has been part of Kawartha Speedway’s driver line-up in one form or another since the track’s opening season.  Although he’d managed some respectable efforts – primarily at the controls of a Thunder Car – Howie Crowe, of the Alderville First Nation had been denied his time in the spotlight.  Acquiring the car campaigned by 2011 track champion Ken Donaldson Jr. pushed the roofing contractor’s career another rung up the ladder.  A series of strong efforts – including his first career feature win – not only propelled the driver of the #28 machine to a runner-up point finish, he was also named the most improved driver in the track’s Thunder Car division.

With a resume that includes multiple seasons in a Street Stock, Late Model and Canadian Modified at Brighton Speedway, the world of short track motorsports is nothing new to Peterborough’s Rob Flindall.  Making the transition from dirt to asphalt racing may have initially thrown the Trenton native a bit of a curve, but the driver of the #57 machine in Kawartha’s Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock division – a class project for his transportation technology students at Peterborough’s Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute – managed some solid runs on the way to a 4th place point finish and was named the most improved driver in the Fraserville oval’s entry level field.

Fans can track the latest speedway news on-line anytime by visiting www.kawarthaspeedway.com.

Photo attachment:  Heather Wiebe – Heather Wiebe Photography
NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model, Thunder Car and Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock drivers Ryan Kimball, Howie Crowe and Rob Flindall earned the 2012 Kawartha Speedway most improved driver awards.

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
                       clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com
                       613.968.6410  /  613.922.0654


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Pembroke Thrills, Wins 50th Milk Bowl

Therrien, Pilotte Claim 2012 Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       ACT – 102812
Barre, VT – Two-time Thunder Road Champion Dave Pembroke persisted through a wild 50th Milk Bowl to kiss the cow on a payday worth over $10,000 for the second time in his career.  Eight-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar came up just short through a day of major adversity to finish second, and Maine’s Glen Luce earned third overall.  2012 ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. battled to fourth, and 7-time ACT Champion Jean Paul Cyr rounded out the top five.

The day began with second place starter Brian Hoar blowing an engine in practice, with a new engine arriving from his Georgia, VT shop 45 minutes before the drop of the green.  The RPM team changed the motor, and sent Hoar out just as the field fired for the pace laps to make the start.  Hoar and Pembroke battled side-by-side for the first ten laps, before Hoar soared to the lead and began to slice through lap traffic.  Just as Hoar began lapping the middle of the field, a nasty wreck involving ACT Champion Helliwell and others, developed directly in front of Hoar, but he slipped through the carnage to retain the lead.  Hoar cruised to the segment win with Pembroke, 2012 King of the Road Nick Sweet, and multi-time Thunder Road Champion Cris Michaud on his heels.
Cyr took the early lead in Segment 2 until a brutal lap 4 pileup that involved Sweet, Michaud, Cody Blake and other top contenders.  Ten laps later Sweet pulled into the pits, while Pembroke picked off the field one by one.  Hoar, already with a bent hood from the pileup, tried to clamor through the grid to catch Pembroke, but fell deep in the field after taking a spin through the infield himself.  The top contenders continued to drop like flies, while Pembroke methodically moved to the front.  Cyr powered through for the victory, while Pembroke earned  7th, building an 8-point advantage over Hoar, Scott Payea, and multi-time Thunder Road Champion Phil Scott.
The third segment was time for Milk Bowl heroics as Hoar worked his way to the front in the early going leaving Pembroke behind.  As young Cody Blake surged to the lead, Pembroke struggled in the back of the field.  By the halfway point, Hoar had already reached third place while Pembroke had finally clawed his way to tenth.  The gloves came off with 25 to go as Hoar fought for 2nd and Pembroke stole ninth.  As it stood, Hoar would win the Milk Bowl by one point, but a late race caution set up the pair for a fight to the finish.  A brilliant restart by Hoar sent him to the lead around Blake, but it was all for naught when a caution came out again moments later.  Suddenly, the #99 of Blake shocked the crowd and pulled out and headed down pit road with a flat tire.  Blake’s pit stop brought Pembroke one spot closer to Hoar, and into a tie for the overall win. 
On the following restart, Pembroke held on to seventh, while Hoar battled Turner, ME’s Glen Luce for the win.  Finally, Hoar’s car had had enough and faded to second, giving Pembroke the narrow victory.  Pembroke was beside himself in victory lane.
“I just took your advice not to screw up, Ken.” He said in victory lane to announcer Ken Squier. “It’s been ten years since we won one of these.  I can’t believe it.”
Brent Dragon, ACT Rookie of the Year Jimmy Hebert, Michaud, Sweet, and Scott rounded out the top ten.
Travis Stearns picked up a hard-fought victory in the Reserve Milk Bowl, finishing second in the first segment after a race-long brawl with Joey Laquerre, and backing it up with another second place finish in Segment 2. Fellow Maine competitor Dave Farrington, Jr., and young Joey M. Laquerre took podium finishes in the inaugural event, and Dave Whitcomb and Joey Laquerre rounded out the top five. 
Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien claimed the overall win, and his first Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Championship, going three-wide on multiple occasions to pick up 2nd after his segment 1 win.  Eric Badore and Tucker Williams finished second and third, while Brendan Moodie, Jr and Jason Allen rounded out the top five.
“That was probably the first, and the last, time I’ll be able to stick it three wide like that,” said an emotional Therrien in Victory Lane. “I don’t know what to say, this is incredible.”
Jefferson, NH’s Nick Pilotte claimed his first Thunder Road Street Stock Championship, finishing second to Hardwick’s Bunker Hodgdon in the Mini Milk Bowl.  Whitefield, NH’s Ben Belanger took home third.
“15 years ago I finished second in the Milk Bowl,” said an ecstatic Hodgdon. “I told my Dad someday I’m going to win this thing, and we did.”
Pilotte was relieved to have won the championship after a runner-up finish in 2011.
“This championship really isn’t mine, it’s theirs,” he said pointing to his crew.  “I can’t thank them enough.”
The 50th Milk Bowl is the last race of the year at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road for the 2012 season.  Look for more announcements in the coming weeks regarding the 2013 season.
50th Annual People’s United Bank Milk Bowl – Unofficial Results
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Pos (Start) Car # Driver Hometown Seg. 1, Seg. 2, Seg. 3, Total
1. (1) 44VT Dave Pembroke Middlesex, VT 2, 7, 7, 16
2. (2) 37VT Brian Hoar Williston, VT 1, 16, 2, 19
3. (11) 7ME Glen Luce Turner, ME 14, 14, 1, 29
4. (22) 27NH Wayne Helliwell Jr. Dover, NH 20, 6, 5, 31
5. (30) 32VT Jean-Paul Cyr Milton, VT 23, 1, 8, 32
6. (21) 55VT Brent Dragon Milton, VT 16, 3, 13, 32
7. (15) 58VT #Jimmy Hebert Williamstown, VT 22, 2, 9, 33
8. (5) 6VT Cris Michaud E. Montpelier, VT 4, 18, 11, 33
9. (3) 88VT Nick Sweet Barre, VT 3, 27, 4, 34
10. (26) 14VT Phil Scott Berlin, VT 13, 4, 19, 36
11. (14) 9VT Chip Grenier Graniteville, VT 17, 5, 15, 37
12. (12) 26VT John Donahue Graniteville, VT 19, 9, 10, 38
13. (17) 89VT Scott Payea Milton, VT 9, 8, 21, 38
14. (10) 68VT Brooks Clark Fayston, VT 8, 15, 16, 39
15. (4) 57ME Austin Theriault Fort Kent, ME 11, 23, 6, 40
16. (18) 91QC Patrick Laperle St-Denis, QC 29, 10, 3, 42
17. (16) 10NH Stacy Cahoon St. Johnsbury, VT 10, 17, 17, 44
18. (19) 88ME Jeff Taylor Farmington, ME 12, 12, 20, 44
19. (6) 99VT Cody Blake Barre, VT 6, 21, 18, 45
20. (23) 51ME Ricky Rolfe Albany Twp, ME 15, 24, 12, 51
21. (25) 41VT Jamie Aube No. Ferrisburg, VT 24, 19, 14, 57
22. (7) 16NH Travis Fadden North Haverhill, NH 18, 20, 23, 61
23. (28) 00VT Mike Bailey South Barre, VT 27, 11, 25, 63
24. (8) 97NH Joey Polewarczyk Jr. Hudson, NH 7, 25, 31, 63
25. (20) 31NH Luke Hinkley Claremont, NH 25, 13, 26, 64
26. (9) 85VT Trampas Demers South Burlington, VT 5, 28, 31, 64
27. (13) 78NH Quinten Welch Lancaster, NH 21, 26, 24, 71
28. (27) 40VT Eric Chase Milton, VT 28, 22, 22, 72
29. (29) 17RI Ray Parent Tiverton, RI 26, 29, 31, 86
30. (24) 81VT Grant Folsom Waitsfield, VT 30, 31, 31, 92
Lap Leaders: Segment 1: Dave Pembroke (1-5), Brian Hoar (6-50)  Segment 2: Jean Paul Cyr (1-75)  Segment 3: Austin Theriault (1-9), Cody Blake (10-68), Glen Luce (69-75)
Cautions: 15 Segment 1: Lap 40, Segment 2: Lap 2,3,14,23,23,25,34,49 Segment 3: Lap 9, 13, 25,51,68,68
Time: Segment 1: 15:22, Segment 2: 49:08, Segment 3: 49:05, Total: 1:53:35

Reserve Milk Bowl – Unofficial Results
Pos. (Start) Car # Driver Hometown Seg. 1, Seg. 2, Total
1. (2) 85ME Travis Stearns Auburn, ME 2, 2, 4
2. (6) 23ME Dave Farrington Jr. Jay, ME 3, 4, 7
3. (7) 51VT Joey M. Laquerre E. Montpelier, VT 6, 3, 9
4. (10) 25VT Dave Whitcomb Essex Jct., VT 4, 5, 9
5. (4) 15VT Joey Laquerre E. Montpelier, VT 1, 8, 9
6. (3) 16NY Joey Becker Jeffersonville, VT 12, 1, 13
7. (14) 3VT Ricky Roberts Washington, VT 7, 6, 13
8. (1) 01NH Bryan Mason Stark, NH 5, 10, 15
9. (21) 2NH Norm Andrews Northfield, VT 13, 7, 20
10. (12) 31ON Spencer MacPherson Carleton Place, ON 8, 12, 20
11. (8) 9ME Emily Packard East Montpelier, VT 10, 11, 21
12. (11) 42NY Chad White Fort Ann, NY 9, 15, 24
13. (16) 22VT Sam Caron Colchester, VT 11, 16, 27
14. (15) 34NH Todd Davis Claremont, NH 19, 9, 28
15. (17) 77MA James Linardy Somerville, MA 14, 14, 28
16. (18) 95NH Pat Floyd Chester, NH 17, 13, 30
17. (19) 42VT Matt White Northfield, VT 15, 19, 34
18. (5) 18VT Jamie Fisher Shelburne, VT 16, 19, 35

Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen “Mini” Milk Bowl – Unofficial Finish
Pos. (Car #) Driver Hometown Seg. 1, Seg. 2,Total
1. (4) Bobby Therrien Hinesburg, VT 1, 2, 3
2. (04) Eric Badore Milton, VT 7, 6, 13
3. (11) Tucker Williams Hyde Park, VT 5, 8, 13
4. (94) Brendan Moodie Wolcott, VT 3, 10, 13
5. (29) Jason Allen Barre, VT 2, 11, 13
6. (31) Shawn Fleury Middlesex, VT 4, 12, 16
7. (68) #Jason Woodard Waterbury Ctr., VT 15, 4, 19
8. (61) Jason Corliss Barre, VT 6, 13, 19
9. (26) Mike Ziter Williamstown, VT 13, 9, 22
10. (00) Joe Steffen Grand Isle, VT 11, 15, 26
11. (1) Scott Coburn Barre, VT 9, 17, 26
12. (2) John Lambert Northfield, VT 8, 19, 27
13. (27) Kyle Pembroke Montpelier, VT 14, 14, 28
14. (10) Josh Demers Middlesex, VT 12, 16, 28
15. (90) David Finck Barre, VT 28, 3, 31
16. (9) #Chris Roberts Washington, VT 10, 21, 31
17. (01) Mike Martin Craftsbury Comm., VT 31, 1, 32
18. (0) Mark Barnier Essex Jct., VT 27, 5, 32
19. (21) Blair Bessett Worcester, VT 25, 7, 32
20. (55) Brian Delphia Waterbury, VT 17, 20, 37
21. (64) Christopher Pelkey S. Barre, VT 20, 18, 38
22. (71) Darrell Morin Essex Jct., VT 22, 22, 44
23. (97) Steve Denio Passumpsic, VT 19, 25, 44
24. (85) Doug Crowningshield Barre, VT 23, 23, 46
25. (14) Jason Pelkey S. Barre, VT 26, 24, 50
26. (51) Joey Roberts Georgia, VT 16, 34, 50
27. (36) Joel  Hodgdon Craftsbury, VT 18, 34, 52
28. (23) Chandler Potter Marshfield, VT 21, 34, 55
29. (77) Gerald Griswold Bath, NH 24, 34, 58
30. (22) Randy Gonyaw S. Barre, VT 29, 34, 63
31. (17) Taber Gagne Fairfax, VT 30, 34, 64
32. (86) Sean McCarthy Washington, VT 32, 34, 66
33. (33) Topo Despault Waterbury, VT 33, 34, 67

Allen Lumber Street Stock “Mini” Milk Bowl – Unofficial Results
Pos. Car # Driver Hometown Seg. 1, Seg. 2, Total
1. (83) Bunker Hodgdon Hardwick, VT 1, 3, 4
2. (11) Nick Pilotte Jefferson, NH 5, 2, 7
3. (99) Ben Belanger Whitefield, NH 4, 6, 10
4. (90) Cameron Ouellette Barre, VT 7, 5, 12
5. (42) Greg Adams Jr. Hardwick, VT 12, 1, 13
6. (50) Tommy Smith Williamstown, VT 9, 8, 17
7. (39) Troy Kingsbury Waitsfield, VT 8, 9, 17
8. (43) Jamie Davis Wolcott, VT 3, 16, 19
9. (31) Bob Eldred Waterbury, VT 16, 4, 20
10. (8) #Kevin Dodge Barre, VT 15, 7, 22
11. (77) Dave Whitcomb Elmore, VT 10, 14, 24
12. (92) Garry Bashaw Lincoln, VT 2, 26, 28
13. (47) William Hennequin Morrisville, VT 11, 19, 30
14. (16) #Dean Switser Jr. Lyndonville, VT 20, 11, 31
15. (09) Amanda Habel Roxbury, VT 19, 13, 32
16. (75) Joe Fecteau Hardwick, VT 24, 10, 34
17. (10) Alan Maynard Fairfax, VT 22, 15, 37
18. (29) Gary Mullen Tunbridge, VT 18, 20, 38
19. (61) Kevin Streeter Waitsfield, VT 21, 18, 39
20. (35) Keith Fortier Hinesburg, VT 23, 17, 40
21. (05) Donnie Yates N. Montpelier, VT 17, 23, 40
22. (03) Jason Kenison Groveton, NH 6, 35, 41
23. (24) Marvin Johnson Essex Jct., VT 31, 12, 43
24. (33) #Kevin Wheatley Brookfield, VT 14, 29, 43
25. (25) Jennifer Getty Cambridge, VT 27, 21, 48
26. (13) Mike MacAskill Williamstown, VT 13, 35, 48
27. (08) Josh Sanders Northfield, VT 28, 22, 50
28. (32) #Daniel Brassard E. Randolph, VT 25, 28, 53
29. (18) Cliff Fleury Barre, VT 30, 25, 55
30. (46) #Paul Grant E. Calais, VT 29, 27, 56
31. (86) Marcel J. Gravel Wolcott, VT 34, 24, 58
32. (71) Danny Emerson E. Ryegate, VT 26, 35, 61
33. (6) Daniel Lathrop Morrisville, VT 32, 35, 67
34. (38) George Sanders Northfield, VT 33, 35, 68

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ACT Unveils International 500

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                      ACT – 102812-90

 

Waterbury, VT – American Canadian Tour officials have announced a major inaugural weekend event for the 2013 season: The International 500.  The landmark event will be run at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY on the weekend of July 20th and 21st.

 

The ‘500’ will be comprised of (300) three hundred laps for ACT Late Model Championship teams from throughout New England and Eastern Canada. The Late Model portion of the ‘500’ will be run similarly to Thunder Road’s famous Milk Bowl with (3) three 100-lap segments. 

 

Posted awards of over ($100,000) one hundred thousand dollars will include a 100-lap non-qualifier feature event.

 

The popular Airborne Modifieds will participate in the ‘500’ weekend, with (2) 50-lap combined segments.  Rounding out the historic mid-summer event will be Plattsburgh’s own Renegade and Bomber divisions, Thunder Road’s Tiger Sportsmen, and the Quebec Sportsman Series will also be invited to attend.


More information regarding reserve ticket purchase and event schedule will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

 

The International 500 weekend will be July 20th and 21st at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.

 

For additional information, head to www.acttour.com, contact the ACT office at (802) 244-6963, or email us at media@acttour.com

 

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NASCAR K&N Pro Series East News & Notes: Rockingham

For Immediate Release

 

·         Inaugural Event For Series At “The Rock”

·         Three-Way Battle For 2012 Championship

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2012) – Yet another wildly-competitive NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season is going to come down to the wire as the inaugural Classic 3 Championship presented by RCR Racing Museum on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway will determine who will wear the 2012 crown.

 

Three men will enter “The Rock” with a chance at their first NASCAR championship. And while we don’t yet know who will leave with the hardware, we do know it will be a first-time titlist.

 

Corey LaJoie is in the catbird’s seat with a six-point lead on Kyle Larson while Brett Moffitt remains in the mix, 16 points out. All three have had their turn atop the standings over the course of the season’s last four months, but only one will hoist the trophy on Saturday.

 

Adding to the suspense is that this will be the first stand-alone event in series history at Rockingham. The hardware had been handed out at Dover (Del.) International Speedway – a place the series has visited a host of times through the years – from 2007-11, but the famed mile at Rockingham will provide a new challenge for the championship contenders in 2012.

 

In addition to having that slim six-point lead, North Carolina native LaJoie also has the most prior experience at Rockingham with three touring Late Model wins there in recent seasons. All three of those appearances resulted in a trip to Victory Lane, something he’s also done in three of his last four K&N Pro Series East starts this year.

 

But the contenders should not be overlooked. Larson, the only rookie of the group, has been impressive in the speedway races in his first year in stock cars after coming east from California and open-wheel competition. He won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in late September and has an average finish of 3.6 in five races at tracks .75 miles or larger.

 

Moffitt is also a formidable foe for both LaJoie and Larson despite the larger deficit. In his fourth full-time season in the series, Moffitt has 21 speedway starts that have resulted in five victories and nearly a top-five average finish. The points leader for four races in the second half of the season, Moffitt is the most consistent front-runner in the series, having led laps in all but four of the 13 events to date. The Iowan has led the most laps in each of the last two races only to see LaJoie wind up in Victory Lane, the second time at Moffitt’s expense.

 

It will likely take more than experience, or speed, or momentum to bring it all home on Saturday at Rockingham, however. Moffitt was in championship contention and leading the race at Dover a year ago before he suffered a cut tire with four laps to go, which sealed the title for Max Gresham. This year he’ll be seeking redemption – on multiple fronts – while LaJoie and Larson hope to strike gold in their first title chase.

 

TALE OF THE TAPE

Category                                               Corey LaJoie     Kyle Larson       Brett Moffitt

Points                                                   504                   498                   488

Wins                                                     5                      2                      2

Top 5s                                                  9                      8                      8

Top 10s                                                9                      11                     10

Laps Led                                              385                   64                     768

Laps Completed                                    1,716                1,856                1,800

Season Avg. Fin. At Speedways*           4.2                    3.6                    9

Career Avg. Fin. At Speedways*            9                      3.6                    5.8

Career Wins At Speedways*                   2                      1                      5

* .75 miles or larger

 

RACE:  Classic 3 Championship pres. by RCR Racing Museum

PLACE:  Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway

DATE:  Saturday, Nov. 3

TIME:  2 p.m. ET

TV:  SPEED, Thursday, Nov. 8, 3 p.m. ET

AUDIO:  NASCAR Home Tracks Radio pres. by Speed51.com live at www.nascarhometracks.com

TRACK LAYOUT:  One-mile asphalt oval

2011 WINNER/POLESITTER:  Inaugural event

EVENT SCHEDULE: Friday, Nov. 2 – Practice 11:10 a.m.-12:05 p.m., Final Practice 1-1:40 p.m., Qualifying 3:45 p.m., Driver Autograph Session 6-7 p.m.

TRACK PR CONTACT:  Andy Cagle, (910) 995-2122, andy.cagle@rockinghamspeedway.com

TRACK TWITTER:  @RockinghamSpeed

EVENT TWITTER HASHTAG:  #Classic3

NASCAR IMC CONTACT:  Jason Cunningham, (704) 201-6658, jcunningham@nascar.com, Twitter: @NASCAR_NE

If photographs or graphics are needed for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, please contact Jason Cunningham.

 

FAST FACTS

The Race:  The inaugural Classic 3 Championship pres. by RCR Racing Museum will be the first stand-alone event in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history at Rockingham Speedway and the final event of the 2012 season.

 

The Procedure:  The maximum starting field will be 30 cars, including provisionals. The first 26 starting positions will be based on two-lap time trials and the remaining four will be filled through the provisional process. The race will be 100 laps (100 miles) with a 10 minute break at or near the conclusion of Lap 50.

 

The Track:  Rockingham is a one-mile asphalt oval with 22 degrees of banking in Turns 1 & 2 and 25 degrees in Turns 3 & 4. The facility opened in 1965 and held NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series races until 2004. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series contested its inaugural event at the track this past April.

 

Series History: The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competed in combination with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Rockingham six times from 1987-92. Dana Patten registered the highest finish among the K&N Pro Series East competitors in those events, 10th overall in the 1989 race that was won by Nationwide Series driver Rob Moroso.

 

ROCKINGHAM RACE NOTES

LaJoie Looking for More History:  A winner of three of the last four events, Corey LaJoie will look to make some more history in the season finale at Rockingham Speedway. LaJoie joined select company last Saturday at Greenville Pickens Speedway when he became just the sixth driver in the 26-year history of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competition to win as many as five races in a season. With a win at Rockingham he would join Brad Leighton – six in 1999 – and Ricky Craven – 10 in 1991 – atop the single-season wins lists. Only one of the previous five drivers to gain five wins in a season and not win the championship, Tracy Gordon in 2000.

 

Rookie Title Also on the Line:  Kyle Larson’s focus will undoubtedly be on the overall K&N Pro Series East championship, but he’ll also hope to hold off his Rev Racing teammate Bryan Ortiz for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year crown. The pair have been 1-2 in rookie points nearly the entire season, and entering Rockingham Larson will carry a five-point lead on Ortiz.

 

Pressley Back Behind the Wheel:  After competing in seven of 12 events in 2011, Coleman Pressley moved from behind the wheel to atop the pit box as a crew chief for X Team Racing, a position he has held since. The 2012 finale at Rockingham, however, will provide an opportunity to return to the seat. Pressley will attempt to make his first K&N Pro Series East start of the season in the No. 15 X Team Racing Toyota.

 

Potential Series Debuts:  The Rockingham pre-entry list includes four drivers that will attempt to make their K&N Pro Series East debut: Formula 2 driver Jack Clarke from England in the No. 14 X Team Racing Toyota, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model standout Frank Deiny Jr. in the No. 44 Chevrolet, Noel Dowler of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in the No. 57 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet and dirt Late Model driver Tyler Reddick in the No. 98 Curb Racing Chevrolet.

 

HOME TRACKS: McCaskill Earns North Carolina Title

Deac McCaskill captured the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state championship in North Carolina thanks to his efforts at Southern National Raceway Park in 2012. McCaskill out-distanced Tim Brown, who competed at Bowman Gray Stadium, by just 34 points for his first state crown. McCaskill finished eighth nationally after also gaining points at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.

 

LAST TIME OUT: Greenville

The most recent NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140, was held on Oct. 27 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway. Here are some highlights:

·         Corey LaJoie nabbed his series-leading fifth win of the season, and second in a row, when he bested Brett Moffitt on a green-white-checkered finish.

·         The win propelled LaJoie to the points lead for the first time in his career. He leads Kyle Larson – who finished fourth – by six points entering the season finale.

·         LaJoie became the first driver since Joey Logano in 2007 to win five races in a season.

·         Moffitt once again led a race-high 144 laps before LaJoie led the final two of the event.

·         Jesse Little (third) and Sam Hunt (seventh) recorded the best finishes of their rookie seasons.

·         The race was rescheduled from its original date of Sept. 3, which was postponed by rain.

 

NEXT TIME OUT: Night of Champions, UNOH Battle Highlight Postseason Schedule

Before the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns to the track next spring, there are two major events on the offseason schedule. The 26th NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will be crowned as part of the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards banquet, which will include ceremonies for the seven NASCAR touring series on Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach will then take place Feb. 18-19 on a temporary .4-mile oval on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway as part of 2013 Speedweeks. By virtue of wins through the K&N Pro Series East’s first 13 events Cale Conley, Chase Elliott, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Brett Moffitt and Darrell Wallace Jr. have locked-in starting positions for the 150-lap exhibition K&N Pro Series East-West combination race on Feb. 19.

 


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