GREENVILLE, S.C. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Tom Baker photo —
Just as he did in opening practice on Saturday at Greenville Pickens Speedway, Kyle Benjamin shot to the top of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East speed charts and stayed there, leading a 21-car field in advance of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150.
Benjamin’s fast lap of 21.077 seconds (85.401 mph) in the No. 40 FEVR Chevrolet was slightly slower than his best in the first practice, but it was still enough to lead the rest of the field by nearly a tenth of a second as he seeks his second-career K&N East victory and first of the season.
Ronnie Bassett Jr. took his No. 04 Bassett Gutters Ford to second in the waning moments of the 45-minute round, posting a quick time of 21.165 seconds (85.046 mph) around the half-mile oval.
Second-year veteran Justin Haley, driving the No. 5 Braun Auto Group Chevrolet for HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks (HSMJM), went third-overall with his clip of 21.223 seconds (84.814 mph). The Winimac, Ind. native is seeking his first-career series victory in an event that HSMJM won in 2015 with eventual champion William Byron.
Kaz Grala (21.269/84.630) and rookie Harrison Burton (21.275/84.606) rounded out the top five, with North Carolina driver and former CARS Pro Cup Series standout Reid Wilson close behind in sixth (21.296/84.523).
Points leader Spencer Davis, who was second in opening practice, landed seventh in the final round. Mobile winner Tyler Dippel was a disappointing 11th.
Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 goes green at 5:15 p.m. ET.
RESULTS: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East; Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 Final Practice; Greenville-Pickens Speedway; March 26, 2016
- Kyle Benjamin
- Ronnie Bassett Jr.
- Justin Haley
- Kaz Grala
- Harrison Burton
- Reid Wilson
- Spencer Davis
- Trey Hutchens III
- Dominique van Wieringen
- Noah Gragson
- Tyler Dippel
- Collin Cabre
- Ruben Garcia Jr.
- John Holleman IV
- Dillon Bassett
- Jairo Avila Jr.
- Hunter Baize
- Austin Theriault
- Sarah Cornett-Ching
- Ali Kern
- Christian Celaya
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
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