Truex Wins at Lime Rock Park, Extends Points Lead

Official Release (courtesy of nascarmedia.com)

LAKEVILLE, Conn. – NASCAR Camping World Series East rookie Ryan Truex completed the road-course sweep in the Mohegan Sun 200 Saturday at Lime Rock Park to move into the driver’s seat for the series title.

Matt DiBenedetto, who sat on the pole and led a race-high 56 laps, was caught up in an accident on Lap 70 and Truex – second place at the time – assumed the lead for the second time in the race. The 17-year-old from Mayetta, N.J., then held off series veteran Eddie MacDonald on the final two restarts to earn his third victory of the season.

Truex, a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, earned his first career victory on a road course at Watkins (N.Y.) Glen International in June and took the points lead for the first time after his first oval track win at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in July. On Saturday at Lime Rock, his win extended his lead in the championship standings to a season-high 50 points over MacDonald.

While MacDonald record his best career effort at the 1.53-mile road course, several other contenders struggled.

Defending race and series champion Matt Kobyluck, who entered the day 60 points behind Truex, had engine trouble from the start. The team worked to get his car back out onto the track and he was able to turn in 38 laps before being involved in the Lap 70 accident that eventually caught up race leader DiBenedetto. Kobyluck had to settle for a 17th place finish and is 133 points behind Truex with just two races remaining in his bid to repeat as NASCAR Camping World Series East champion.

Brett Moffitt (ninth), Steve Park (11th) and Jody Lavender (13th) all entered the event within 100 points of Truex but lost considerable ground.

Jason Holehouse earned his best career NASCAR Camping World Series East finish with a third-place effort on Saturday. He was followed in the top five by Alex Kennedy, with a new career-best finish as well, and Mike Olsen.

Jesus Hernandez, Ryan Duff, Dustin Delaney, Brett Moffitt and Jeff Anton rounded out the top 10.

The next-to-last race of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series season will take place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Heluva Good! Fall 125 is slated for Friday, Sept. 18.

Truex Finishes Second at Adirondack Int'l Speedway, Widens Overall Championship Points Lead

Courtesy of NASCARMEDIA.com
BEAVER FALLS, N.Y. – Veteran Steve Park showed he hasn’t forgotten his way to Victory Lane, leading the final five laps Saturday evening at Adirondack International Speedway en route to the win in The Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems.

It was Park’s first NASCAR Camping World Series East victory in 13 years. He won twice in 1996, with the latter coming at the now closed Nazareth (Penn.) Speedway on July 1. Since, he has collected wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Series Truck Series. He has also won on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Park appeared on the verge of the win in the NASCAR Camping World Series previous race, July 11 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, only to lose the lead late to teenage rookie Ryan Truex.

This time, it was Park who got the jump on race leader Jody Lavender on the race’s final restart and led the the rest of the way. Truex got by Lavender in the closing laps to grab second. Jesus Hernandez and defending race winner Matt Kobyluck rounded out the top five.

With the win, Park locked up a secured spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The prestigious postseason race is scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2010 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

Eddie MacDonald won his first career Coors Light Pole Award and led a race-high 101 laps. However, he got shuffled back late in the race and finished 10th.

Truex was able to stretch his points lead to 26 over Lavender with three races remaining. The top six drivers are seperated by just 100 points.

NASCAR Camping World Series East-The Edge Hotel 150 pres. by Casella Waste Systems Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Adirondack International Speedway
Lowville, N.Y.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 80.000 mph, $8,000.
2. (9) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 150, $4,625.
3. (11) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 150, $3,700.
4. (10) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 150, $3,000.
5. (3) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600.
6. (16) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $3,900.
7. (8) Ty Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $1,700.
8. (2) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 150, $2,100.
9. (17) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $2,025.
10. (1) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $3,975.
11. (5) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,475.
12. (13) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,875.
13. (12) Tommy Cloce, Canton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,325.
14. (4) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 150, $1,775.
15. (18) Jason Holehouse, Toronto, Ontario, Toyota, 150, $1,230.
16. (14) Max Gresham, Griffin, Ga., Toyota, 149, $1,700.
17. (15) Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa., Dodge, 149, $1,670.
18. (19) Levi Arthur, Boonville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148, $1,150.
19. (20) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 146, $1,130.
20. (6) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 111, vibration, $1,615.
21. (21) Todd Peck, Glenville, Pa., Chevrolet, 98, vibration, $1,100.