Photo Credit: Mike Holtsclaw/OnPitRoad.com
Earns First K&N Pro East Victory at Bristol
The Knoxville, Tennessee native rocketed away from defending race-winner Kyle Benjamin on the final restart with 10 laps left in Saturday’s Pitt Lite 125 at Bristol Motor Speedway to capture the checkered flag – his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory in 13 career starts.
The 21-year-old took control on Lap 14 and was able to defend the top-spot from a charging Benjamin throughout the race. The victory also marked the first win for second-year team, Martin-McClure Racing. The local team, owned by NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Eric McClure and Hal Martin, announced earlier in the week their plans to race a partial K&N East schedule this season.
Benjamin finished second, followed by Kaz Grala, Justin Haley and Dillon Bassett.
Collin Cabre, Gracin Raz, Eddie MacDonald, Todd Gilliland and Riley Herbst rounded out the top 10.
Entering the race attempting to set a record with five consecutive K&N Pro Series victories to start his career, Gilliland started from the rear due to unapproved adjustments and could not fully recover. Fellow pre-contest favorite, 21 Means 21 Pole Award winner Harrison Burton, bowed out just before the halfway point due to engine trouble and finished 23rd.
Prior to his win, Finchum, 21, never finished higher than seventh, a result he achieved three times. He is scheduled to run three more K&N East races this season: Iowa (July 26), New Hampshire (July 16) and Dover (Sept. 30).
Although he expressed disappointment with his inability to catch Finchum for the win, Benjamin jumped Spencer Davis for first in the K&N East standings. He leads the No. 41 FEVR Chevrolet driver by three points.
The Pitt Lite 125 will be broadcast by NBCSN on Thursday, April 21 at 1 a.m. ET.
