Truex Nabs Second Win at Thompson
Rookie Takes Point Lead With Victory
Thompson, CT — Ryan Truex captured the checkered flag in a NASCAR Camping World Series East race for the second time in the last three outings as he took the Pepsi Full Fender Frenzy 100 Saturday night at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
Truex (No. 00 NAPA Toyota) battled Steve Park (No. 35 Waste Management Recycle America Chevrolet) through the last half of the race as the pair swapped the lead three times, but it was the 17-year-old Michael Waltrip Racing development driver who got past the veteran on Lap 96 and rode to the victory.
It was the second win in the last three outings for Truex, who earned his first series victory at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on June 6. The Mayetta, N.J., native also joined his older brother, Martin Truex Jr., as NASCAR Camping World Series East winners at Thompson.
Park’s runner-up finish was the best of his 2009 season so far. He led a race-high 76 laps after earning the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day.
Matt DiBenedetto (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota) finished third to record his fourth top-five in five starts this year. Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 NEMO/Grimm Construction) and Alan Tardiff (No. 38 Bestway Disposal Chevrolet) rounded out the top five.
The rest of the top 10 finishers included Matt Kobyluck, Jesus Hernandez, Ryan Duff, Jonathan Smith and Brett Moffitt.
With the win, Truex has registered three-straight top-three finishes, which vaulted him past Jody Lavender and MacDonald into the points lead with four races remaining on the 2009 schedule. Lavender, the points leader entering the day, finished 11th.
The NASCAR Camping World Series East will next compete at Adirondack International Speedway on Saturday, August 1 in The Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR PR
NASCAR Camping World Series East-Pepsi Full Fender Frenzy 100 Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (6) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 100 laps, 72.628 mph, $7,325.
2. (1) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $6,165.
3. (2) Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif., Toyota, 100, $3,200.
4. (5) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 100, $3,000.
5. (8) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 100, $2,000.
6. (3) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $2,550.
7. (17) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 100, $3,100.
8. (4) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 100, $1,550.
9. (12) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $1,520.
10. (10) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 100, $2,050.
11. (14) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 100, $1,500.
12. (20) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $1,500.
13. (18) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 100, $1,500.
14. (15) Todd Peck, Glenville, Pa., Chevrolet, 100, $1,000.
15. (16) Jarit Johnson, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet, 99, $975.
16. (22) Sean Corr, Goshen, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99, $975.
17. (11) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 66, accident, $950.
18. (9) Derek Ramstrom, West Boylston, Mass., Chevrolet, 66, accident, $950.
19. (7) Corey LaJoie, Concord, N.C., Ford, 53, engine, $925.
20. (19) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 32, engine, $1,425.
21. (21) Eric Curran, Springfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 30, accident, $900.
22. (13) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 13, engine, $1,400.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 51 minutes 38 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.728 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: S.Park (110.707 mph, 20.324 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 20 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S. Park 1-36; E. MacDonald 37; S. Park 38-75; R. Truex 76-93; S. Park 94-95; R. Truex 96-100.
Standings: 1. R. Truex, 1057; 2. E. MacDonald, 1048; 3. J. Lavender, 1031; 4. M. Kobyluck, 1007; 5. B. Moffitt, 980; 6. S. Park, 964; 7. D. Delaney, 875; 8. A. Tardiff, 859; 9. A. Kennedy, 843; 10. R. Duff, 841.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR CWSE PR