Ben Kennedy Wins First NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Race of His Career at Five Flags Speedway
- 06.05.2013
Kennedy won the pole and led from start to finish in the NAPA Auto Parts 150, the third race in the K&N Pro Series East schedule. Rookie Gray Gaulding, a 15-year-old from South Carolina, was second. John Van Doorn, a 25-year from Michigan making his first K&N Pro Series East start, was third.
Kennedy, the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., won his first NASCAR race in the Euro-Racecar Series in Tours, France, last year. His win at Five Flags Speedway was his first in the United States. Kennedy’s previous best finish in the K&N Pro Series East was third. “I didn’t know we would be that strong,” said Kennedy, driver of the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet. “We saved our tires as much as we could on the long runs. I think Gray had something for me that last restart there. I gave 110 percent those last three laps. It’s just something really cool and I’m speechless tonight.”
Duke Whiseant spun out on lap 136 and bunched up the field for the last restart of the race. Kennedy was able to stay ahead of Gaulding over the last 14 laps of the race. “We’ve been working on our restarts,” Kennedy said. “That’s been one of the things I’ve been trying to focus on lately. That’s been hurting is in the past. We really focused on it the other day when we came out here and tested. It definitely paid off on those restarts.”
Cale Conley spun out in turn four of the last lap of the race, but it didn’t result in a caution. Gaulding said he wanted one more chance to try to pass Kennedy on a restart. “It felt just like the waiting game,” Gaulding said. “At the end of the day, I kinda wished it was a green-white-checkered. As soon as (Kennedy) get on a five, six-lap run, he’s already taken off. It worked out really well. We got a clean race car, not one ding on it.” It was Gaulding’s third top-10 finish and first top-five finish of the season.
“This is my first time ever coming here, Pensacola, wonderful track,” Gaulding said. “Can’t thank all the fans enough. We had a really great weekend. We knew how much hard work it takes to get here. I think in a couple weeks we’ll be able to be in Victory Circle. We’re working really hard for it.” Van Doorn capped a whirlwind weekend with a third-place finish at Pensacola. “I don’t even know what to say, this is so unexpected,” said Van Doorn. "Seven days ago, I didn't even have this ride. The biggest thing was just learning the car and learning what the feel is.”
Brett Moffitt, the leader in the K&N Pro Series East standings, was fourth, followed by another impressive finish for Kenzie Ruston in fifth. It was her second top-five finish in a row. Moffitt has a nine-point lead over Gaulding and Dylan Kwasniewski in the K&N Pro Series East standings. Ruston is in fourth place, 10 points behind Moffitt. The NAPA Auto Parts 150 from Five Flags Speedway will be televised on Speed on May 2 at 3 p.m. EST. The next K&N Pro Series East race is the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia on April 25. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
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