Kyle Larson Wins Slack Auto Parts 150 at Gresham Motorsports Park
CONCORD, NC (June 10, 2012) Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 6 Rev Racing and L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc. Toyota Camry, takes home his first win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Saturday night in the Slack Auto Parts 150 at Gresham Motorsports Park.
In what started off as a difficult night for Rev Racing, this 19-year-old driver proved that nothing could stop him from picking up the checkered flag.
Starting the caution filled race in the 4th position, Larson fell back to sixth during the first of eight caution flags and held this position until fighting back to the top three by lap 40. While fighting his way to the top, Larson slipped back in the field after his Rev Racing teammate, Bryan Ortiz, blew a right front tire on the No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Camry, on lap 76, collecting the No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry of fellow teammate, Ryan Gifford, which lead to the first red flag of the race.
Returning to green flag racing after this first of three red flag situations, Larson continued to climb and was contending for the win when the last of his Rev Racing teammates, Jorge Arteaga, was involved in an accident on the backstretch, on lap 125, ending his night.
More determined than ever to claim a victory for Rev Racing, Larson, continued to battle race leader and pole winner, Cale Conley, for the win when the red flag flew for the final time on lap 142.
Facing another restart with only eight laps remaining in the race, Larson thought he would see his dream diminish before making the ‘move of the race’, on lap 145, resulting in both the lead as well as the race win.
“I am glad that I can bring a win home for Rev Racing as well as my sponsors, Toyota and L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc.,” said Larson. “I wasn’t sure that my team and I would have enough time to pull off this win, but we got a good restart on lap 145, I beat Conley into turn one and was able to hold him off.”
After this win, 2012 Rookie of the Year contender, Larson, has moved within three points of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points leader Chase Elliott.
Larson and his fellow Rev Racing drivers will make their return to the track in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Visit Hampton, VA 175, at Langley Speedway, in Hampton, VA, on Saturday, June 23.