LOUDON, N.H. — After four runner-up finishes, Ty Gibbs finally did one better at New Hampshire.
The DGR-Crosley driver led a race-high 112 laps in Saturday’s Apple Barrel 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway en route to his first career K&N Pro Series East victory, coming in his sixth start overall and first at NHMS.
“It’s really cool, man,” Gibbs said post-race. “I came here, and it’s a hard track, a fun track too. Just a little tight there but once we worked on it, we got better. Super cool to win here.”
Gibbs earned three straight second-place finishes this season to begin his career. Add in a fourth-place run at Watkins Glen as well as another runner-up at Bristol, he was poised to earn his first checkered flag.
It was a matter of when, not if.
“You work so hard for this stuff and finishing second the last four times I’ve raced, it sucks,” he admitted. “It’s heartbreaking. But once you get that win, it feels so good. I feel so good right now. Plus to have two (won last weekend in the ARCA Menards Series at Salem Speedway), it’s just a great deal.”
Gibbs has earned two wins (Salem and Gateway) in the ARCA Menards Series this season, garnering seven top fives as well.
His teammate Tanner Gray came home in second, earning his best finish since winning at South Boston in May and his first top five since the first Loudon race.
Josh Berry, making his third career series start and first with Visconti Motorsports, came home third, with Gateway winner Spencer Davis and championship points leader Sam Mayer rounding out the top five.
Chase Cabre led 13 laps from the pole, but fell back on the restart following the second scheduled break due to what he and the team called a “bad set of tires.” His Rev Racing teammates Ruben Garcia Jr. and Nick Sanchez finished seventh and eighth, with Justin Carroll and Robert Pawlowski completing the top 10.
Max McLaughlin, running a tribute paint scheme to the late Mike Stefanik, finished 13 laps down in 12th after experiencing electrical issues late.
Mayer’s maintained his 30-point championship points lead over Chase Cabre heading into the final race of the season, and has virtually wrapped up his first NASCAR championship. He must finish 27th or better at Dover to clinch the title.
The final K&N Pro Series East event of the season will take place at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, October 4.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, NH
Apple Barrel 125 – September 21, 2019
1. Ty Gibbs
2. Tanner Gray
3. Josh Berry
4. Spencer Davis
5. Sam Mayer
6. Chase Cabre
7. Ruben Garcia, Jr.
8. Nick Sanchez
9. Justin Carroll
10. Robert Pawlowski
11. Armani Williams
12. Josh Fanopoulos
13. Max McLaughlin
14. Bill Hoff
