K&N East Statistical Advance: Greenville

By admin September 2, 2014 Greenville-Pickens, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

Analyzing The The Whitaker Chevy 140

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns to Greenville (South Carolina) Pickens Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 6 for the Whitaker Chevy 140, the season’s 15th of 16 events. Below is a look at the performance of the series and selected drivers at Greenville, as well as some other statistical trends:

Greenville Race Setup
• Ben Rhodes can clinch the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title with a 13th-place finish or better in The Whitaker Chevy 140. Rhodes currently has a 65-point advantage over Cameron Hayley in the championship standings.
• Ben Rhodes and Sergio Peña are part of an impressive list of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East winners at Greenville that includes Austin Dillon, Dylan Kwasniewski, Joey Logano and Darrell Wallace Jr., who is the only multi-time series winner at the track.
• Scott Heckert enters the weekend with two consecutive wins in the K&N Pro Series East. He is the third driver this season to have a streak of back-to-back wins, joining Daniel Daniel Suárez and Turner Scott Motorsport teammate Ben Rhodes.
• Track position is critical in short-track racing, and Greenville is no exception. The average starting position for the 12 race winners is 2.99.

Greenville Pickens Speedway
History
• Opened on July 4, 1946 as a dirt track. The race surface was converted to asphalt in April, 1970.
• Held 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 1951-71, including the first flag-to-flag televised event.
• David Pearson (1959) and Ralph Earnhardt (1965, 66) are among the famed drivers that have won championships at the track.
• Junior Miller won a pair of NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour races at Greenville in the 2006-07 seasons.

Notebook
• This is the series’ 13th visit to the historic South Carolina track.
• The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East held its inaugural Greenville Pickens Speedway race on June 6, 2006 and has returned every year since. This is the fourth straight season that the track has held two events.
• Dylan Kwasniewski took the checkered flag in this event last year while Ben Rhodes won in the series’ first visit to the track earlier this year. Darrell Wallace Jr. is the only driver in the first 12 races at GPS to earn two victories.
• In the first 12 NKNPS East events there have been four drivers that have won from the pole: Joey Logano (2007), Moffitt (2011) and Kwasniewski (2013) and Rhodes (2014). Moffitt also set the track qualifying record in 2011.
• Logano, Austin Dillon (2008), Gdovic (2013), Wallace (2010) and Rhodes (2014) earned their first career NKNPS East wins in events at Greenville.
• The most cautions for a K&N East race at Greenville is 13 on two occasions (2006, 2010) while the fewest is one in the September 2013 race. The most caution laps (79) came in the inaugural 2006 race while the fewest was eight in September 2013.
• In 12 races the lead has changed hands an average of 3.59 times with a high of eight changes in 2009.
• The average starting position for the winner is 2.99 while the pole sitter has an average finish of 5.99.

Greenville Data
Race: #15 of 16 (9/6/14)
Track Layout: .5-mile asphalt oval
Race Length: 140 laps (70 miles)
Banking/Corners: Five degrees

Greenville Qualifying/Race Data
2013 Pole Winner: Dylan Kwasniewski
2013 Race Winner: Dylan Kwasniewski
1-Lap Qualifying Record: Brett Moffitt, Toyota, 20.534 seconds, 87.659 mph, April 2, 2011
150-Lap Race Record: Brandon Gdovic, Toyota, 1 hour, 2 minutes, 27 seconds, 72.058 mph, April 6, 2013

Greenville Leaders
Wins
Darrell Wallace Jr. … 2
Sean Caisse … 1
Austin Dillon … 1
Brandon Gdovic … 1
Brian Icker … 1
Corey LaJoie … 1
Joey Logano … 1
Dylan Kwasniewski … 1
Brett Moffitt … 1
Sergio Peña … 1
Ben Rhodes … 1

Poles
Brett Moffitt … 3
Dylan Kwasniewski … 1
Corey LaJoie … 1
Joey Logano … 1
Mike Olsen … 1
Peyton Sellers … 1
Cole Whitt … 1
Ben Rhodes … 1
Field set per rule book … 2

Laps Completed
Eddie MacDonald … 1,636
Ryan Gifford … 1,177
Brettt Moffitt … 1,163

Laps Led
Brett Moffitt … 356
Darrell Wallace Jr. … 171
Brian Ickler … 167

Selected Driver Information:
Jay Beasley (No. 42 Toyota Racing Development Toyota)
• Has two top fives and four top 10s in 14 career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Occupies the 12th position in the season standings.
• Was 19th in his series debut at Greenville earlier this season
• Finished season-best fourth at Iowa Speedway on May 17.

Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota)
• Has two top fives and five top 10s in 34 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Ranks 15th in the season standings.
• Finished season-best eighth in the season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on Feb. 16.
• Finished 21st at Greenville in first visit to the track this season

Nick Drake (No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
• Has three top fives and seven top 10s in 14 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Ranks ninth in the championship standings.
• Finished season-best second at Iowa Speedway on May 17.
• Collected first series top-five finish (4th) on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
• Finished third in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West 2014 season opener at Phoenix International Raceway.
• Earned a 16th-place finish in series debut at Greenville in March.

Gray Gaulding (No. 20 Krispy Kreme Chevrolet)
• Has two poles, six top fives and 15 top 10s in 28 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Sits fifth in points
• Recorded a season-best finish of second on March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• Became the youngest pole winner in NKNPS East history (15 years, 2 months, 15 days) in April 2013 at Richmond.
• Finished fifth at VIR last season
• Became the youngest race winner in NKNPS West history (15 years, 8 months, 30 days) in November 2013 at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway.
• Became the youngest pole winner in NKNPS West history (15 years, 8 months, 16 days) in October 2013 at Kern County Raceway Park.
• Made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on March 30 at Martinsville Speedway.
• Is a member of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport.

Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota)
• Has one win, one pole, 16 top fives and 24 top 10s in 68 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Best career finish at Greenville was fourth in 2010.
• Finished sixth in the series’ first visit to Greenville this season.
• Recorded a top-10 finish in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on August 3, 2013 at Iowa Speedway.
• Is a member of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport.

Kaz Grala (No. 31 Oz Link Chevrolet)
• Has a three top fives and nine top 10s in 14 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Occupies the sixth spot in the season standings.
• Finished a season-best fourth at Watkins Glen on Aug. 8.
• Earned a seventh-place finish in March Greenville race
• Is the K&N Pro Series East’s youngest full-time competitor at 15 years of age.

Cameron Hayley (No. 98 Cabinets By Hayley Chevrolet)
• Has one pole, six top fives and eight top 10s in 15 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Sits second in the championship standings, 65 tallies behind the points leader.
• Had a season-best finish of second in the season opener at New Smyrna Speedway, Langley Speedway, Columbus Motor Speedway and Virginia International Raceway.
• Has a win, six poles, 19 top fives and 26 top 10s in 34 career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West starts.
• Was championship runner-up to Derek Thorn last season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
• Is the youngest (15 years, 23 days) driver to start K&N West race in August 2011.
• Took over Turner Scott Motorsports car that Dylan Kwasniewski drove to the K&N East championship in 2013.
• Made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on Aug. 31, 2014 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
• Is an alumnus of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport.

Scott Heckert (No. 34 Project Lifesaver Chevrolet)
• Earned his first career victory at Watkins Glen on Aug. 8. Followed that up with a victory at Virginia International Raceway on Aug. 16.
• Has two wins, three poles, five top fives and nine top 10s in 28 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Is eighth in the season standings.
• Finished 17th at Greenville earlier this season

Austin Hill (No. 22 A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford Ford)
• Has a win, six top fives and 10 top 10s in 21 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Ranks 10th in championship standings after 14 races.
• Has eight top 10s in his last 13 series starts with five of those being top-five finishes.
• Finished a season-best second on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
• Earned first career win in September 2013 at Dover International Speedway.
• Member of 2014-15 NASCAR Next class.

Brandon Jones (No. 33 Wolfpack Energy Services Chevrolet)
• Has one win, five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 21 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Holds down the third position in points, seven points behind Cameron Hayley for the second spot
• Recorded first series win in Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1
• Made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut last August at Bristol.

Jesse Little (No. 97 Mac’s Speed Shop Chevrolet)
• Recorded first career win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 11. Has one win, one pole, 10 top fives and 17 top 10s in 35 career NKNPS East races.
• Won his first series pole award at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1.
• Owns the fourth position in the championship standings.
• Was 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year for the K&N Pro Series East and finished ninth in championship standings.
• Made K&N Pro Series West, in which his father, Chad, was the 1987 champion, debut last November at Phoenix.
• Member of 2014-15 NASCAR Next class.

Sergio Peña (No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Toyota)
• Has four wins, nine top fives and 24 top 10s in 53 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Is ranked 14th in the points standings.
• Earned his first victory of the season and third 2014 win for Rev Racing at Columbus Motor Speedway on July 19.
• Is an alumnus of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport, and a current member of Rev Racing and Drive for Diversity.

Ben Rhodes (No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet)
• Has five wins, five poles, 12 top fives and 17 top 10s in 21 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Leads championship standings by 65 points over Cameron Hayley.
• Has five wins and nine podium finishes his last 12 events.
• Scored first career win on March 22 at Greenville. Most recent win came at Langley.
• Made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on March 30 at Martinsville and finished eighth.
• Is a member of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport.

Kenzie Ruston (No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet)
• Has seven top fives and 13 top 10s in 28 career K&N Pro Series East starts.
• Ranks seventh in the championship driver standings.
• Her runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1 was her best career finish and the highest finish by a female in series history.
• Is a member of the NASCAR Next program that spotlights young talent in the sport.

Up To Speed:
• The 2014 season is the 28th for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
• The 2014 schedule features 16 races at 14 different tracks across 10 states.
• Daniel Suárez opened the season with a narrow victory over Cameron Hayley, who won his first K&N East pole, at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
• Suárez won at Daytona for his second straight series victory to become just the second driver in series history to win the first two races of the season. Sean Caisse in 2006 is the other. Ben Rhodes picked up his first series career pole award.
• Eddie MacDonald snapped a 53-race winless streak at Bristol. Rhodes started from the pole and led 130 of 132 laps.
• Rhodes started from the pole for the third consecutive race and picked up his first series win after leading a race-high 106 laps at Greenville Pickens Speedway.
• Cole Custer started from the outside pole position and won at Richmond International Raceway after passing Bill McAnally Racing teammate and pole sitter Nick Drake with 51 laps remaining.
• Rhodes picked up his second win of the season and led a race-high 115 laps at Iowa Speedway. Brodie Kostecki led the race’s first 35 laps after earning his first series career pole award.
• At Bowman Gray, Rhodes collected his second straight win after his fourth start from the pole.
• Gray Gaulding sat on the pole at Five Flags Speedway last time out, but it was Rhodes who once again stole the show with his third consecutive win.
• Rhodes overtook teammate and pole winner Scott Heckert in the early going at Langley Speedway, holding on for his fourth win in a row
• Jesse Little avoided a late lap accident that claimed the two race leaders, driving past them for hist first career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Sergio Pena survived a late restart at Columbus Motor Speedway, holding off Cameron Hayley in the final laps to record his first series win of the year and first victory since 2011, giving the Drive for Diversity driver four career victories.
• Brandon Jones became the 11th different winner in 11 meetings at Iowa between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West. Kenzie Ruston, who started the race from the 16th position, finished second and became the highest finishing female in series history.
• Scott Heckert took the lead from Andrew Ranger and Cole Custer on a green-white-checkered restart to capture his first career win and the seventh victory for Turner Scott Motorsports in 13 events this season.
• After beating out Andrew Ranger and Cole Custer for his first series win, Scott Heckert returned to Victory Lane one week later in the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway. Heckert took the lead from Turner Scott Motorsport Teammate Cameron Hayley to score his second-consecutive victory and second on a road course.

Sources: John Tejeda, NASCAR PR

NKNPS East Greenville 9/6/14 Schedule
TIME EVENT
10 a.m. Garage Opens
1:30-2:15 p.m. Practice
2:45-3:15 p.m. Final Practice
5:30 p.m. Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
6 p.m. Two-lap Qualifying
7 p.m. Autograph Session
8 p.m. Greenville 140 (140 laps, 70 miles)
All times local. Subject to change.

NKNPS East Greenville 9/6/14 Entry List
CAR DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM OWNER CREW CHIEF
1 Trey Hutchens, Lexington, N.C. * NISCO/NRC Toyota Toyota Shigeaki Hattori Nick Hutchins
2 Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn. UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Max Siegel Mark Green
04 Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C. * Bassett Racing Chevrolet Ronnie Bassett Mike Abner
4 Sergio Pena, Winchester, Va. Toyota Racing Development Toyota Max Siegel Jon Wolfe
6 Bryan Ortiz, Bayamon, Puerto Rico Rev Racing Toyota Max Siegel Clyde Eyler
15 Nick Drake, Mooresville, N.C. * NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Bill McAnally Dave McCarty
18 Sam Hunt, Midlothian, Va. DRIVE Technology Toyota Shayne Lockhart Shayne Lockhart
20 Gray Gaulding, Colonial Heights, Va. Krispy Kreme Chevrolet Bob Newberry Doug Howe
21 Mackena Bell, Carson City, Nev. Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota Jennifer Satterfield Glenn Parker
22 Austin Hill, Winston, Ga. * A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford Bryan Hill Doug Chouinard
24 Brennan Newberry, Bakersfield, Calif. Qore24 Chevrolet Bob Newberry John Monsam
31 Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass. * OzLINK Chevrolet Steve Turner Garrett Lambert
33 Brandon Jones, Atlanta, Ga. Richard Childress Museum Chevrolet Steve Turner Shane Huffman
34 Scott Heckert, Ridgefield, Conn. Project Lifesaver Chevrolet Harry Scott, Jr. Fuz Burgdoff II
41 Ben Rhodes, Louisville, Ky. * Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet Harry Scott, Jr. Mark McFarland
42 Jay Beasley, Las Vegas, Nev. * Toyota Racing Development Toyota Max Siegel Matt Bucher
43 Brodie Kostecki, Perth, Australia * Arcoplate Toyota Andrew Kostecki Corey LaJoie
52 Quin Houff, Weyers Cave, Va. * Quin Houff Racing Chevrolet Ken Schrader Donnie Richeson
81 Will Burns, Simpsonville, S.C. * Burns Brothers Racing Chevrolet Michael Burns Ron Otto Sr.
96 Kenzie Ruston, El Reno, Okla. Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet Benjamin Kennedy Mike Fritts
97 Jesse Little, Sherrills Ford, N.C. Mac’s Speed Shop Chevrolet Jason Little Kris Bowen
98 Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet Mike Curb Mardy Lindley
*Rookie of the Year contender