GREENVILLE, SC - Ben Rhodes entered the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140 needing to finish at least 13th to clinch his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East crown, he did nine spots better.<br />
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The 17-year-old Louisville, KY, native earned his 11th top-five finish of the season, crossing the Greenville Pickens Speedway finish line fourth and clinching his first series title in the process.<br />
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Meanwhile Winston, GA's Austin Hill earned his first victory of the season and second of his career.<br />
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Hill led the last 58 laps and edged Cameron Hayley, Rhodes' nearest championship challenger, for the checkered flag.<br />
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For Hayley, it's his fifth runner-up finish and seventh top five of the season.<br />
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Gray Gaulding crossed the line third, followed by Rhodes and Nick Drake.<br />
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Rhodes picked up his first K&N Pro East win at Greenville in March, the first of five wins -- including four in a row -- that gave him an insurmountable points lead.<br />
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He won his sixth 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light Saturday afternoon, but a miscue at the start of the race nearly cost him dearly. Rhodes was black-flagged for jumping the race's initial start and instructed to serve a pass through penalty. He barely came out in front of the leaders to stay on the lead lap. He quickly began to work his way back to the front on the flat half-mile track.<br />
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Brennan Newberry, Brandon Jones, Ryan Gifford, Jesse Little and Will Burns rounded out the top 10.<br />
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Rhodes holds a 62-point lead over Hayley heading into the season finale. Jones is third, 20 points behind Hayley and just two points ahead of Gaulding and four points ahead of Little.<br />
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The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will wrap-up its 2014 season at Dover International Speedway in Delaware on Friday, Sept. 26, for the Drive Sober 150.<br />
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<strong>NASCAR K&N Pro Series East</strong><br />
<strong> Greenville-Pickens Speedway - Greenville, SC</strong><br />
<strong> Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140 - Sept. 6, 2014</strong><br />
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Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status<br />
1 5 22 Austin Hill * A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford 140 48 5 Running<br />
2 3 98 Cameron Hayley Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet 140 43 1 Running<br />
3 2 20 Gray Gaulding Krispy Kreme Chevrolet 140 42 1 Running<br />
4 1 41 Ben Rhodes * Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet 140 40 Running<br />
5 10 15 Nick Drake * NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 140 39 Running<br />
6 17 24 Brennan Newberry Qore24 Chevrolet 140 38 Running<br />
7 13 33 Brandon Jones Richard Childress Museum Chevrolet 140 37 Running<br />
8 7 2 Ryan Gifford UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota 140 36 Running<br />
9 15 97 Jesse Little Mac's Speed Shop Chevrolet 140 35 Running<br />
10 18 81 Will Burns * Burns Brothers Racing Chevrolet 140 34 Running<br />
11 9 31 Kaz Grala * OzLINK Chevrolet 140 33 Running<br />
12 20 96 Kenzie Ruston Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet 140 32 Running<br />
13 11 6 Bryan Ortiz Rev Racing Toyota 140 31 Running<br />
14 14 42 Jay Beasley * Toyota Racing Development Toyota 140 30 Running<br />
15 12 34 Scott Heckert Project Lifesaver Chevrolet 140 29 Running<br />
16 16 21 Mackena Bell Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota 139 28 Running<br />
17 21 1 Trey Hutchens * NISCO/NRC Toyota Toyota 139 27 Running<br />
18 6 4 Sergio Pena Toyota Racing Development Toyota 138 26 Running<br />
19 22 18 Sam Hunt DRIVE Technology Toyota 137 25 Running<br />
20 8 04 Ronnie Bassett, Jr. * Bassett Racing Chevrolet 119 24 Engine<br />
21 19 52 Quin Houff * Quin Houff Racing Chevrolet 74 23 Accident<br />
22 4 43 Brodie Kostecki * Arcoplate Toyota 72 22 Suspension<br />
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RACE STATISTICS<br />
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Fastest Qualifier: Ben Rhodes * Time: 20.742 Seconds Speed: 86.780 mph<br />
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Time of Race: 1 hrs., 8 mins, 24 secs Average Speed: 61.404 mph Margin of Victory: 1.023 Seconds<br />
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Caution Flags: Laps 71-72 (Break - No FP); 75-79 (#52, #96, #1 Turn 3 & 4 - No FP); 124-127 (#31 Turn 1 - FP #96). 3 for 11 laps.<br />
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Lap Leaders: Cameron Hayley 1-17, Gray Gaulding 18-29, Cameron Hayley 30-67, Gray Gaulding 68-82, Austin Hill * 83-140.<br />
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Total Laps Led: Austin Hill * 58, Cameron Hayley 55, Gray Gaulding 27. 4 changes involving 3 drivers.<br />
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Top 10 Driver Points: Ben Rhodes * 610, Cameron Hayley 548, Brandon Jones 528, Gray Gaulding 526, Jesse Little 524, Kaz Grala * 500, Austin Hill * 498, Kenzie Ruston 492, Nick Drake * 491, Scott Heckert 485<br />
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Next Race: Dover International Speedway<br />
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*Rookie of the Year contender
