Kaz Grala finishes second in a thrilling Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway

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Kaz Grala turned in an electrifying performance behind the wheel of his No. 3 Kiklos Toyota Camry for Ben Kennedy Racing, finishing second in the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). The finish didn’t come easy, as Grala would face mid-race adversity enroute to the podium result. 
 
After qualifying in the sixth position, the 16-year-old Bostonian wasted no time in flexing the muscle of his blue and white Toyota Camry, climbing to third in the opening four laps of the event, where he would run for the majority of the first half.
 
During the first 28 laps of the event, veteran crew chief Mike Fritts regularly reminded his driver to conserve his tires, as they would have to last throughout the race. Grala took the coaching to heart and brought the Ben Kennedy Racing entry to the halfway break in the third position. 
 
“I had a fast and balanced Kiklos Camry right from the start,” said Grala. “Starting in the front, I was able to save my tires quite a bit and that helped us hugely in the long run today.”
 
The team made minor adjustments to the No. 3 Kiklos Camry during the five-minute break to send Grala back into battle. 
 
On the ensuing restart, Grala made an assertive move into treacherous Turn 1, inadvertently catching the grass and falling almost all the way to the back of the field.
 
“Unfortunately, I made a mistake going for the lead,” said Grala. “I ended up off the track and fell just about to last place. I wish I hadn’t have done that, but you never know how the race could have played out had I not. From there, we slowly worked our way back to the top-5. Towards the end of what was a long, hot, and grueling race, many drivers around me were making mistakes, which I was able to take advantage of by staying focused and hitting my marks.”
 
While Grala capitalized on the opportunities he was presented throughout the second half of the event, the driving displayed by the 16-year-old on the final restart of the event was nothing short of spectacular as contact with eventual race winner Sergio Pena sent him for an off-road excursion. 
 
Grala used both the throttle and the steering wheel, displaying supreme car-control as he maneuvered the Kiklos Camry back onto the track, losing only one position in the process. As quickly as the position was lost, Grala rebounded and reclaimed the third position and set his sights on the lead tandem. 
 
“We got shoved off by Pena with two laps to go and I was trying to catch him to get that position back for the win. I caught him just as we took the checkered, without enough time to make my move,” said Grala. “Nonetheless, it was a great points day for our team. I have to thank Kiklos and Ben Kennedy Racing for a fast racecar, it was a blast for me and a great run for my team.”
 
Team principal Ben Kennedy was tracking the progress of his team and driver from Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada where the  NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ only road course race of the year was held the following day. In a brief phone call, Kennedy praised his driver and Daytona Beach-based team on the solid performance in the season’s final road course event.
 
“It was a great run by Kaz and the entire Ben Kennedy Racing team,” said Kennedy. “It’s tough to rebound from mid-race adversity, but that just goes to show how strong of a team and what a great driver we have in Kaz. They really seem to be clicking here lately and I feel like they’re going to score a win in the near future.” 
 
The Boston native will look to harness the momentum of the second place run and use it as a spring board as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East heads to Richmond International Raceway for the penultimate event on September 10.

Ben Kennedy Racing PR
Speedway Digest Staff
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