Ben Kennedy captured his first career win in dominant fashion – leading the NAPA Auto Parts 150 wire-to-wire as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East made its inaugural visit to Five Flags Speedway on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Kennedy established himself as the one to beat at the half-mile track in his home state – topping the speed chart in practice and winning the Coors Light Pole Award in qualifying.
The 21-year-old from Daytona Beach held off multiple challenges throughout the 150-lap event and maintained command even after his sizeable lead was erased by a late-race caution.
“It’s so cool to come here to Pensacola and win,” said Kennedy. “This is a track with so much prestige and this is phenomenal.”
Fifteen-year-old series rookie Gray Gaulding had to settle for second, with John Van Doorn third. Brett Moffitt came home fourth, followed by Kenzie Ruston. Bryon Ortiz, Dylan Kwasniewski, Sergio Pena, Ryan Gifford and Brandon Gdovic completed the top 10.
Kennedy, the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., got his first win last year in the Euro-Racecar Series in Tours, France. This was his first win in the U.S. and came in his 30th NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start. His previous best finish was third (twice).
Kennedy was one of five drivers in the field with previous experience at the Pensacola track. He has twice competed in Super Late Models at Five Flags.
The NAPA Auto Parts 150 will be televised on SPEED on May 2 at 3 p.m. ET.
The next event on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule is the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on April 25.
Fin |
Str |
Car |
Driver |
Team |
Laps |
Points |
B/Points |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
96 |
Ben Kennedy |
Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet |
150 |
48 |
5 |
Running |
2 |
3 |
20 |
Gray Gaulding * |
Krispy Kreme Toyota |
150 |
42 |
Running |
|
3 |
7 |
1 |
John Van Doorn * |
Karl Chevrolet Performance Chevrolet |
150 |
41 |
Running |
|
4 |
4 |
11 |
Brett Moffitt |
Don Valley North Toyota Scion Toyota |
150 |
40 |
Running |
|
5 |
9 |
34 |
Kenzie Ruston * |
AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet |
150 |
39 |
Running |
|
6 |
5 |
4 |
Bryan Ortiz |
Impact Toyota |
150 |
38 |
Running |
|
7 |
22 |
98 |
Dylan Kwasniewski |
Royal Purple/Rockstar Energy Drink Chevrolet |
150 |
37 |
Running |
|
8 |
8 |
16 |
Sergio Pena |
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota |
150 |
36 |
Running |
|
9 |
19 |
2 |
Ryan Gifford |
Sunoco/NTI Toyota |
150 |
35 |
Running |
|
10 |
11 |
46 |
Brandon Gdovic |
Windstax.com/Aquis Communications Toyota |
150 |
34 |
Running |
|
11 |
16 |
21 |
Mackena Bell * |
Toyota Racing Development Toyota |
150 |
33 |
Running |
|
12 |
18 |
37 |
John Hunter Nemechek * |
Spraker Racing Enterprises Chevrolet |
150 |
32 |
Running |
|
13 |
12 |
6 |
Daniel Suarez |
Visit Acapulco Toyota |
150 |
31 |
Running |
|
14 |
6 |
39 |
CJ Faison |
Little Caesar’s Pizza Chevrolet |
150 |
30 |
Running |
|
15 |
23 |
71 |
Eddie MacDonald |
Grimm Construction/National MS Society Toyota |
149 |
29 |
Running |
|
16 |
14 |
89 |
Matthew Tifft * |
DOC 360 Chevrolet |
149 |
28 |
Running |
|
17 |
10 |
72 |
Scott Heckert * |
Project Lifesaver Chevrolet |
149 |
27 |
Running |
|
18 |
2 |
47 |
Cale Conley |
Tait Towers Toyota |
149 |
26 |
Running |
|
19 |
21 |
31 |
Jimmy Weller |
Integrated Metal Products Chevrolet |
148 |
25 |
Running |
|
20 |
15 |
99 |
Austin Dyne |
KMC Wheels Chevrolet |
148 |
24 |
Running |
|
21 |
13 |
29 |
Zak Hausler * |
F.A.S.T. Ford |
148 |
23 |
Running |
|
22 |
20 |
00 |
Cole Custer * |
Haas Automation Chevrolet |
148 |
22 |
Running |
|
23 |
24 |
49 |
Harrison Rhodes |
MacDonald Motorsports Toyota |
148 |
21 |
Running |
|
24 |
25 |
0 |
Enrique Contreras, III * |
Viva La Raza Racing Toyota |
147 |
20 |
Running |
|
25 |
26 |
48 |
Duke Whiseant * |
Chevrolet |
133 |
19 |
Accident |
|
26 |
17 |
97 |
Jesse Little * |
Coulter Mtrsprts/Team Little Racing Chevrolet |
66 |
18 |
Engine |
NASCAR PR
