Second Career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win For D4D, NASCAR Next Driver
For Immediate Release
Suarez Nets New Smyrna Win
Second Career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win For D4D, NASCAR Next Driver
NEW SMYRNA, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2014) – Offseason did nothing to slow Daniel Suarez's momentum.
The Monterrey, Mexico, driver held off Cameron Hayley in a door-to-door battle of NASCAR's rising stars to win the New Smyrna 150 presented by JEGS Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway. The race was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener and the inaugural visit to the banked half-mile.
Driving for Rev Racing and NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, the 22-year-old Suarez picked up his second career victory and gave Rev Racing its 13th win since 2010.
It marked Suarez's sixth top-three finishes in eight NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races dating back to last year. And it was his second straight NASCAR touring series win; Suarez won the NASCAR Toyota Mexico Series finale at Mexico City in November. Suarex is also a member of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young, talented drivers.
Hayley, 17, won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Brewing Company earlier in the day. But it was Suarez and Brandon Jones, 16, who led the way for most of the night. Jones led 34 laps before giving way to Suarez on Lap 48 and eventually finishing third.
Ben Rhodes and Lee Pulliam rounded out the top five. It was the series' debut for Pulliam, the two-time defending NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion.
A late race caution set the stage for tense closing laps. Pulliam restarted alongside Suarez, slipped up and dropped out of the top five.
That allowed Suarez to get away and Hayley to move back into second.
With four to go, Hayley muscled his way alongside Suarez. They rubbed and stayed side-by-side, with Suarez leading leading by inches to the white flag and beating Hayley to the finish by .083 seconds.
Kenzie Ruston finished sixth, followed by Gray Gaulding, Mackena Bell, Brandon Gdovic and rookie Kaz Grala.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will get right back at it. The series will be part of the UNOH Battle At The Beach Tuesday on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway, along with the non-points special event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tours.
The New Smyrna 150 presented by JEGS will air on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday at 9 a.m.
Contact:
Shon Sbarra
NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST-New Smyrna 150 presented by JEGS Results
Sunday
At New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Lap length: 0.48 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (11) Daniel Suarez, Monterrey, Mexico, Toyota, 150 laps, 65.587 mph.
2. (1) Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Chevrolet, 150.
3. (10) Brandon Jones, Atlanta, Ga., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (2) Ben Rhodes, Louisville, Ky., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (5) Lee Pulliam, Semora, N.C., Toyota, 150.
6. (6) Kenzie Ruston, El Reno, Okla., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (8) Gray Gaulding, Colonial Heights, Va., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (18) Mackena Bell, Carson City, Nev., Toyota, 150.
9. (17) Brandon Gdovic, Yorktown, Va., Toyota, 150.
10. (21) Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (24) Patrick Staropoli, Plantation, Fla., Toyota, 150.
12. (15) Matt Tifft, Hinckley, Ohio, Dodge, 150.
13. (16) Brennan Newberry, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 150.
14. (3) Brandon McReynolds, Mooresville, N.C., Toyota, 150.
15. (14) Nick Drake, Mooresville, N.C., Toyota, 150.
16. (12) David Garborcauskas, Jr., Stonington, Conn., Toyota, 150.
17. (22) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
18. (13) Jesse Little, Sherrills Ford, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
19. (23) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston Salem, NC, Toyota, 150.
20. (4) Brodie Kostecki, Perth, Australia, Toyota, 150.
21. (9) Scott Heckert, Ridgefield, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
22. (20) Sergio Pena, Winchester, VA, Toyota, 149.
23. (25) Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn., Toyota, 149.
24. (29) Jay Beasley, Las Vegas, Nev., Toyota, 149.
25. (19) Nathan Russell, Curwensville, PA, Chevrolet, 148.
26. (28) Clint King, Denton, N.C., Chevrolet, 135, off track.
27. (7) Austin Hill, Winston, Ga., Ford, 116, off track.
28. (27) Sam Hunt, Midlothian, VA, Toyota, 104.
29. (30) Rusty Skewes, Bluefield, Va., Chevrolet, 66, accident.
30. (26) Jerry Dawson, Saugus, Mass., Chevrolet, 58, handling.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 5 minutes 52 seconds
Margin of Victory: .083 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: C.Hayley (93.522 mph, 18.477 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 16 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: C. Hayley (grid), A. Hill 1-3; K. Ruston 4-7; G. Gaulding 8-12; B. Jones 13-47; D. Suarez 48-150.
Standings: 1. D. Suarez, 48; 2. C. Hayley, 42; 3. B. Jones, 42; 4. B. Rhodes, 40; 5. L. Pulliam, 39; 6. K. Ruston, 39; 7. G. Gaulding, 38; 8. M. Bell, 36; 9. B. Gdovic, 35; 10. K. Grala, 34.
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