Justin Haley scores big at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in SC. (Credit: NASCAR photo.)
Justin Haley was patient all night at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway. Until it was go-time. The 16-year-old from Winamac, Indiana, cleared the dominant car of Kyle Benjamin with seven laps to go and sailed to his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory.
It was Haley’s 23rd career NASCAR K&N Pro Series start. He nearly picked up the win in Phoenix last fall in the K&N Pro West, but late contact while leading cut a tire and ended his night six laps short of the win.
Saturday on the flat half-mile in Greenville, Haley ran second most of the night before making his late move.
Benjamin settled for second, followed by Ronnie Bassett Jr., championship points leader Spencer Davis and Dillon Bassett.
Benjamin, from nearby Easley, South Carolina, was fastest in practice and winner of the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Brewing Company. He led a race-high 122 laps. Haley used lapped traffic to wrestle the lead away early in the race. But Benjamin took it back just before half-way and led until the closing laps when Haley edged by him to claim the checkered flag.
Reid Wilson finished sixth, followed by Noah Gragson, Tyler Dippel, Kaz Grala and Hunter Baize. The race was slowed just twice by cautions, including the halfway break.
Davis maintained a three-point lead over Benjamin, while Haley moved into third. Haley is one point behind Benjamin and one ahead of teammate Dippel. Ronnie Bassett rounds out the top five in points.
The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 will air on NBCSN on Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will be back in action on April 16 with the PittLite 125 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Benjamin is the defending race winner.
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST-Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 Results
Saturday At Greenville Pickens Speedway, Greenville, S.C.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Justin Haley, Winamac, IN, Chevrolet, 150 laps, 71.580 mph.
2. (1) Kyle Benjamin, Easley, S.C., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (3) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC, Ford, 150.
4. (5) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (6) Dillon Bassett, Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford, 150.
6. (10) Reid Wilson, Huntersville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (11) Noah Gragson, Las Vegas, N.V., Ford, 150.
8. (7) Tyler Dippel, Wallkill, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
9. (4) Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass., Toyota, 150.
10. (19) Hunter Baize, Bremen, Ky., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (8) Collin Cabre, Tampa, FL, Toyota, 150.
12. (9) J.A. Junior Avila, Alhambra, Calif., Toyota, 149.
13. (18) Sarah Cornett-Ching, Summerland, B.C., Ford, 149.
14. (17) Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME, Toyota, 149.
15. (15) Harrison Burton, Huntersville, N.C., Ford, 148.
16. (12) Dominique Van Wieringen, Amherstburg, Ont., Ford, 148.
17. (13) John Holleman, IV, Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford, 148.
18. (16) Ali Kern, Fremont, Ohio, Toyota, 148.
19. (14) Ruben Garcia Jr., Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota, 148.
20. (20) Trey Hutchens, Lexington, NC, Chevrolet, 147.
21. (21) Christian Celaya, Caborca, Mexico, Chevrolet, 146.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 2 minutes 52 seconds
Margin of Victory: .515 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: K. Benjamin (86.936 mph, 20.705 seconds)
Caution Flags: 2 for 9 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: K. Benjamin 1-54; J. Haley 55-73; K. Benjamin 74-80; J. Haley 81; K. Benjamin 82-142; J. Haley 143-150.
Standings: 1. S. Davis, 125; 2. K. Benjamin, 122; 3. J. Haley, 121; 4. T. Dippel, 120; 5. R. Bassett, Jr., 116; 6. N. Gragson, 107; 7. K. Grala, 104; 8. H. Burton, 97; 9. A. Theriault, 90; 10. C. Cabre, 88
Source: NASCAR K & N Series