SONOMA, Calif. - Pole sitter Chase Elliott completed a daring pass of race leader Noah Gragson with three laps remaining to claim the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Chevys Fresh Mex 200 Saturday afternoon at California’s famed Sonoma Raceway.
Elliott had saved his tires throughout much of the race before he made his race-winning win with three laps to go to overtake Gragson, who was selected to the latest NASCAR Next class earlier this year.
Gragson had led a race-high 34 laps before losing the lead to Elliott. Gragson said he learned a great deal racing against someone the caliber of Elliott, a leading NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate.
“This was an experience of a lifetime to race against someone like Chase Elliott,” said Gragson. “I knew Chase probably had the best car, but I also knew I had a car that could win. I learned so much out there today. This will only help me become a better racer.”
Elliott said he hoped to apply the track time he was able to obtain to Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.
“I know tomorrow’s race will be a lot different strategy-wise, but hopefully I can capitalize upon the reps I received out there today,” said Elliott. “I realize tomorrow that tires will be more of a factor and it’s a longer race, but I think today can only help me.”
Gracin Raz turned in a strong performance, leading three times for 10 laps, to finish third. While Ryan Partridge and Riley Herbst finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Michael Shawhan, Tom Klauer, Scott Ivie, Carlos Vieira and Cole Rouse rounded out the top 10.
The race experienced a slow start, as there was a multi-car pileup when the Green Flag dropped that sent four cars to the garage. Two of those cars included K&N Pro Series West championship contenders and Bill McAnally Racing teammates, Todd Gilliland and Chris Eggleston. Once the race got underway, the drivers got a better feel for the track and settled in to put on an exciting show for the fans.
The Chevys Fresh Mex 200 will air on NBCSN Thursday, June 30 at 11 pm ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be back in action at Idaho’s Stateline Speedway for the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 on Saturday, July 9.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, CA
Chevys Fresh Mex 200 – June 25, 2016
| Fin | Str | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Points | B/Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Chase Elliott | NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet | 64 | 47 | 4 | Running |
| 2 | 4 | 7 | Noah Gragson | Speed Vegas Ford | 64 | 44 | 2 | Running |
| 3 | 7 | 27 | Gracin Raz | Montana Tech Ford | 64 | 42 | 1 | Running |
| 4 | 2 | 9 | Ryan Partridge | Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford | 64 | 41 | 1 | Running |
| 5 | 10 | 19 | Riley Herbst * | NOS Energy Drink Toyota | 64 | 39 | Running | |
| 6 | 17 | 5 | Michael Shawhan * | WSCMS/Shane Smith/ADI-OP Chevrolet | 64 | 38 | Running | |
| 7 | 23 | 25 | Tom Klauer | I-Pull-U-Pull Chevrolet | 64 | 37 | Running | |
| 8 | 20 | 47 | Scott Ivie | MSI Development Toyota | 64 | 36 | Running | |
| 9 | 22 | 51 | Carlos Vieira | 51 FIFTY Energy Drink Chevrolet | 64 | 35 | Running | |
| 10 | 8 | 6 | Cole Rouse * | Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford | 64 | 34 | Running | |
| 11 | 6 | 54 | Julia Landauer * | Curb Records Toyota | 64 | 33 | Running | |
| 12 | 21 | 86 | Tim Spurgeon | Kleen Blast/David’s Racing Products Chevrolet | 64 | 32 | Running | |
| 13 | 26 | 11 | Takuma Koga | IDT Tools Inc./JKR Chevrolet | 64 | 31 | Running | |
| 14 | 24 | 14 | Matt Levin | Port of Tucson/Sierra Minning Ford | 64 | 30 | Running | |
| 15 | 27 | 36 | Jesse Iwuji * | Red List Group Toyota | 63 | 29 | Running | |
| 16 | 15 | 13 | Todd Souza | Central Coast Cabinets Toyota | 63 | 28 | Running | |
| 17 | 9 | 6 | Will Rodgers * | Solvang Brewing Company Chevrolet | 62 | 27 | Running | |
| 18 | 29 | 68 | Rodd Kneeland * | Wine Roads/Roddrenovations.com Chevrolet | 62 | 26 | Running | |
| 19 | 16 | 22 | James Bruncati * | Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford | 58 | 25 | Accident | |
| 20 | 30 | 15 | Jack Sellers | Shoo Away Chevrolet | 50 | 24 | Accident | |
| 21 | 19 | 21 | Blaine Perkins * | Four Star Fruit Chevrolet | 50 | 23 | Running | |
| 22 | 25 | 30 | Ron Norman | Port of Tucson/Chuys Ford | 45 | 22 | Suspension | |
| 23 | 14 | 40 | Brian Wong | Northeastern University Chevrolet | 44 | 21 | Accident | |
| 24 | 5 | 16 | Todd Gilliland * | NAPA Auto Parts Toyota | 41 | 20 | Running | |
| 25 | 13 | 88 | Alex Schutte | Zitovault Ford | 38 | 19 | Suspension | |
| 26 | 11 | 50 | Chris Eggleston | NAPA Filters Toyota | 34 | 18 | Running | |
| 27 | 31 | 84 | Rich DeLong III | Country Girl Saloon/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet | 2 | 17 | Suspension | |
| 28 | 28 | 38 | Stafford Smith * | Idaho 208 Chevrolet | 1 | 16 | Engine | |
| 29 | 18 | 61 | Johnny Borneman | Borneman Trucking/Rich Thompson Trucking, Inc | 0 | 15 | Accident | |
| 30 | 3 | 17 | David Mayhew | MMI Service Chevrolet | 0 | 14 | Electrical | |
| 31 | 12 | 1 | Jim Inglebright | Inglebright Racing Chevrolet | 0 | 13 | Did Not Start |
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Chase Elliott, Time: 77.892 Seconds, Speed: 91.974 mph
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 58 mins, 3 secs Average Speed: 64.732 mph Margin of Victory: 2.336 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 3-5 (38 Stopped Frt Straight Engine – No FP); 32-33 (Half Way Break – #88 Free Pass); 39-41 (#88 Stalled on Track – No Free Pass); 45-47 (# 40 Accident – #11 Free Pass); 49-52 (#30 drove off Trk & stopped – #22 FPass); 55-57 (Debris on Front St. – #36 Free Pass). 6 for 18 laps.
Lap Leaders: Chase Elliott 0, Ryan Partridge 1-7, Chase Elliott 8-13, Ryan Partridge 14-17, Gracin Raz 18-25, Noah Gragson 26-33, Gracin Raz 34, Noah Gragson 35-41, Gracin Raz 42, Noah Gragson 43-61, Chase Elliott 62-64.
Total Laps Led: Noah Gragson 34, Ryan Partridge 11, Gracin Raz 10, Chase Elliott 9. 10 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Ryan Partridge 256, Todd Gilliland * 241, Chris Eggleston 235, Noah Gragson 231, Gracin Raz 222, Julia Landauer * 219, Cole Rouse * 215, Riley Herbst * 213, Ron Norman 194, Matt Levin 193
* – Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/6/415226/elliott-edges-gragson-for-kn-west-win-at-sonoma