ALTON, Va. - Sometimes it’s good to be at the right place at the right time and that was true for Sergio Pena Saturday in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway.
Pena driving the No. 42 Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota for REV Racing, took advantage of a couple of cars going off course during the final green-white-checkered attempt to collect his fifth career win.
With the 22-year-old Westminster, Virginia, native’s win, REV Racing has won at least one victory in six consecutive K&N East seasons dating back to 2010.
Pena started fifth on the final restart on lap 59 and moved up to third after leader Austin Hill spun in turn 1, allowing Dalton Sargeant to take the lead. Sargeant would also spin out while leading in turn 7 which put Grala and Pena in the battle for the lead.
The two made contact and Pena was able to use the inside line to stay out front and score the win in just his third start of the season while filling in for Jay Beasley while he receives medical treatment.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender David Garbo, Jr. followed Grala in third for his first career podium finish with fellow rookie Collin Cabre coming home fourth. J.J. Haley, who led for six laps, completed the top five.
Hill, who rebounded from an early spin to make his way back to the front before his final spin, rebounded to finish sixth with Nick Drake, Dale Quarterly, Sargeant and points leader William Byron rounding out the top 10.
Defending race winner Scott Heckert, started the race from the pole position and led the race on three different occasions, but suffered a broken rear end on lap 46 to finished 15th and allowed Byron to build his points lead to 15 points with two races remaining on the schedule.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns to the track UNOH 100 at Richmond International Raceway on Thursday, Sept. 10.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Virginia International Raceway – Alton, VA
Biscuitville 125 – Aug. 29, 2015
| Fin | Str | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Points | B/Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 42 | Sergio Pena | Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota | 61 | 47 | 4 | Running |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | Kaz Grala | Kiklos Toyota | 61 | 42 | Running | |
| 3 | 15 | 31 | David Garbo, Jr. * | Whelen Engineering Chevrolet | 61 | 41 | Running | |
| 4 | 14 | 2 | Collin Cabre * | UTI/NTI Toyota | 61 | 40 | Running | |
| 5 | 3 | 5 | J.J. Haley * | Braun Auto Chevrolet | 61 | 40 | 1 | Running |
| 6 | 4 | 22 | Austin Hill | A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford | 61 | 39 | 1 | Running |
| 7 | 2 | 15 | Nick Drake | NAPA Auto Parts Toyota | 61 | 37 | Running | |
| 8 | 10 | 32 | Dale Quarterley | VANDYK Recycling Solutions Chevrolet | 61 | 36 | Running | |
| 9 | 5 | 51 | Dalton Sargeant * | GALT Chevrolet | 61 | 36 | 1 | Running |
| 10 | 7 | 9 | William Byron * | Liberty University Chevrolet | 61 | 34 | Running | |
| 11 | 17 | 9 | Christian Celaya * | Clinica La Familia Chevrolet | 61 | 33 | Running | |
| 12 | 11 | 12 | Brandon Gdovic | WindStax/Fronius USA Toyota | 60 | 32 | Running | |
| 13 | 18 | 19 | Chuck Buchanan, Jr. | Spring Drug Chevrolet | 53 | 31 | Running | |
| 14 | 12 | 4 | Kenzie Ruston | L&M Ethanol Toyota | 47 | 30 | Accident | |
| 15 | 1 | 34 | Scott Heckert | Project Lifesaver Chevrolet | 46 | 31 | 2 | Rear End |
| 16 | 8 | 98 | Rico Abreu * | AccuDoc/Go-Pro Mtrplx/Curb Records Chevrolet | 30 | 28 | Accident | |
| 17 | 9 | 6 | Devon Amos * | Max Siegel, Inc. Toyota | 25 | 27 | Suspension | |
| 18 | 16 | 50 | Zeb Pixley * | Pixley Automotive Chevrolet | 21 | 26 | Transmission |
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Scott Heckert, Time: 87.324 Seconds, Speed: 92.758 mph
Time of Race: 2 hrs., 11 mins, 35 secs Average Speed: 62.584 mph Margin of Victory: .212 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 10-12 (Spin #9 – No FP); 29-30 (Break – FP #98); 34-37 (#98 Turn #12 – No FP); 48-50 (#4 – Turn #1 – FP #32); 53-55 (#5 Front Straight – FP #09); 57-58 (#12 – Turn #2 – FP #09). 6 for 17 laps.
Lap Leaders: Scott Heckert 1-13, Austin Hill 14-16, Scott Heckert 17-38, Dalton Sargeant * 39-44, Scott Heckert 45, J.J. Haley * 46-51, Austin Hill 52-59, Dalton Sargeant * 60, Sergio Pena 61.
Total Laps Led: Scott Heckert 36, Austin Hill 11, Dalton Sargeant * 7, J.J. Haley * 6, Sergio Pena 1. 8 changes involving 5 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: William Byron * 471, Scott Heckert 456, Austin Hill 448, Dalton Sargeant * 432, Kaz Grala 422, J.J. Haley * 421, Rico Abreu * 417, Nick Drake 408, Kyle Benjamin * 380, Kenzie Ruston 355
* – Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
