K&N Series Returns To RIR For Third Running Of Blue Ox 100

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The modern-day NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is certainly no stranger to successful rookies. In fact, three of the last six champions were first-year drivers, and many more made their mark. Early returns on the 2013 season have proved to be no different.

Through three points races, a pair of true rookies are holding strong in the top five of the series standings: Gray Gaulding and Kenzie Ruston. The season may only be one-fifth of the way complete, but the pair is showing signs of staying power.

Gaulding, a 15-year-old from Colonial Heights, Va., has recorded finishes of sixth, 10th and second in his three K&N Pro Series East races. Add to that a runner-up finish in the non-points UNOH Battle At The Beach on the short track at Daytona International Speedway and a sixth-place result in the K&N Pro Series West opener at Phoenix International Raceway in February, and the youngster has had quite the solid start to his NASCAR career.

Meanwhile Ruston, from El Reno, Okla., is making a name for herself as well. After a series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway that saw her finish 11th, the 21-year-old was third at Greenville Pickens Speedway and fifth last time out at Five Flags Speedway. Her third-place marked the best race finish by a female in the series’ 27-year history and the back-to-back top-fives are also a series first.

Aside from first year champions Joey Logano (2007), Ryan Truex (2009) and Kyle Larson (2012), there have been plenty of other first-year drivers that have made some noise in the championship standings in recent seasons. Austin Dillon and Trevor Bayne in 2008, Brett Moffitt in 2009, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Cole Whitt in 2010 and Bryan Ortiz in 2012 all finished in the top five in points while Alex Bowman ranked sixth in 2011.

They still have a long way to go, but Gaulding and Ruston are positioning themselves in the early going to join some elite company.

NASCAR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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