Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) returned to action in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE), competing in the Casey’s General Stores 150 at Iowa Speedway on Friday night. TSM fielded five entries, including full-time competitors Austin Dyne, Dylan Kwasniewski and Kenzie Ruston and part-time competitors Brandon Jones and Ben Rhodes. Kwasniewski and Rhodes earned top-five finishes, finishing second and fifth, respectively, while Jones finished in 11th, Dyne in 28th and Ruston came home 41st, after an early-race blown tire forced her to retire early from the race. Despite finishing second overall, Kwasniewski and his TSM team were credited with the NKNPSE win as they were the highest finishing East team in the combination East and West race.
Dylan Kwasniewski returned to Iowa Speedway, having previously competed at the one-mile track in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West (NKNPSW). Kwasniewski, who missed his high school graduation to compete in the event, started the race in ninth position, after receiving his diploma during prerace driver introductions. After an early-race spin, Kwasniewski battled back to finish second overall in the combination NKNPSE and NKNPSW race in his No. 98 Rockstar Energy Drink/Royal Purple Chevrolet. Kwasniewski was scored as the NKNPSE winner, after being the highest-finishing competitor from the NKNPSE.
“Although finishing second is always tough, I know this was a good night for us,” said Kwasniewski. “My team brought me a great Rockstar Energy Drink/Royal Purple Chevrolet. I got down into the flat and spun out early in the race, so we had to battle back from that. I had a good time racing with Brett and Michael at the end; I think it was a great race. All in all, Iowa was pretty good to me. I got to receive my high school diploma at driver introductions and it was really cool to be asked to join the NASCAR Next group for the third year in a row. I think the fact that we have four Turner Scott Motorsports drivers in the group of 13 says a lot about this team.”
Ben Rhodes had a stellar day at Iowa, as he was first named to the 2013 NASCAR Next class, joining TSM teammates Jeb Burton, Dylan Kwasniewski and Kenzie Ruston, and later earned his career-best NKNPSE finish. Rhodes made his Iowa Speedway debut in the Casey’s General Stores 150, qualifying his No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet 23rd for the event. After the drop of the green flag, Rhodes began to make his way forward and was scored in 12th at the halfway break. After getting four new tires and making adjustments, Rhodes went on to finish the race in fifth place overall and third in the NKNPSE.
“I definitely had a good weekend at Iowa, earning my best finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and being one of the 13 drivers selected to the NASCAR Next 2013 class,” said Rhodes. “We weren’t too concerned with qualifying, we knew we just wanted to work on race setups. We started off too free in the Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet, but we were in pretty good share by the halfway point. It was really great to get a top-five finish and I look forward to coming back to Iowa in August. I have to thank my entire Turner Scott Motorsports team for their work this weekend.”
Brandon Jones also made his Iowa Speedway debut in the Casey’s General Stores 150. After qualifying 12th for the 150-lap event, Jones spent the early part of the race getting acclimated to the track. At the halfway break, Jones reported to his TSM team that his No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet was free off the corner but that it was really good on entry and in the center of the turns. After making some adjustments and receiving new tires, Jones returned to the track in 13th. Towards the end of the race, Jones reported that his Rheem Chevrolet was too free off the corners, but he was still able to move forward, finishing the race in 11th, eighth in the NKNPSE.
“I’m really happy that we were able to put our bad luck behind us and get to run a full race,” said Jones. “We had a great race tonight and had some promising moments. I am very confident in my Turner Scott Motorsports team and I’m looking forward to returning to the series and follow this run up with a top 10 our next time out.”
Austin Dyne qualified 27th in his first NKNPSE race at Iowa Speedway, having raced at the one-mile track previously in the NKNPSW. After reporting to his TSM crew that his No. 99 KMC Wheels Chevrolet was too loose in Turns 1 and 2, Dyne pitted early in the race for adjustments. Restarting in 37th position, Dyne spent the remainder of the race trying to work his way forward. He went on to finish in 28th position overall, which placed him 19th in the NKNPSE.
“Iowa was a tough track for us,” said Dyne. “So far this season, we’ve raced on shorter tracks, so Iowa Speedway was an adjustment for my team and I. I’ve got to thank my Turner Scott Motorsports team for the hard work; we’re all looking forward to getting back on the track in a few weeks at Langley Speedway.”
Kenzie Ruston’s day started off well at Iowa Speedway, as she became the first female to be selected to join the NASCAR Next group. However, her night did not end so well, as she cut down a right front tire early in the race. The blown tire sent her No. 34 Brandt Chevrolet into the wall, relegating her to a 41st-place finish overall and 26th in the NKNPSE.
“I’m really bummed that our night didn’t turn out very well at Iowa Speedway,” said Ruston. “My Turner Scott Motorsports brought me a strong Brandt Chevrolet, and I was looking forward to seeing what we could do in this combination race. Unfortunately, we cut a right front tire and our night ended early. We’ve had a lot of good luck lately, so I guess eventually you’ve got to have your bad luck nights too. Iowa wasn’t all bad, thought; it was a real honor to be selected to the NASCAR Next 2013 class and I look forward to representing my team and NASCAR throughout the rest of the season.”
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