Riley Herbst charged from 18th on the grid to finish eighth at Deleware’s Dover International Speedway on Friday as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East wrapped up its 2016 season.
It marked the third top-10 finish in three K&N East races this year for the 17-year-old from Las Vegas, who wheeled the No. 16 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing.
Herbst, making his first visit to the track known as the Monster Mile, was 14th quickest in practice; but had to start from the 18th spot after qualifying was cancelled due to weather and the field was set by points. He picked off cars one at a time, working his way forward. Herbst broke into the top 10 just past Lap 100 and then gained a couple more positions in the final two laps after a late-race restart.
While Kyle Benjamin won the 126-lap race, Justin Haley finished fourth to capture the series championship.
Herbst’s finish was his best in the three K&N East races he ran this year. He finished ninth in making his series debut in the season opener at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway in February and followed that up with a 10th-place finish at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway in April.
Herbst ran the three K&N East events in addition to running the full schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this season. He is sixth in the K&N West championship standings and third in rookie points, with one event remaining of a 14-race schedule. Herbst has seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 13 starts.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season finale from Dover will be televised on NBCSN on Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. ET.
BMR PR
