Greg Pursley made sure that the second time he took at the lead in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Spokane County Raceway he held on to it.
The 2011 series champion pulled away in the closing laps en route to his third win of the season and 16th career victory in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
Pursley, behind the wheel of the No. 26 Gene Price Motorsports/Star Nursery/Real Water Ford, initially took the lead from teammate and pole winner Cameron Hayley on the first lap, only to relinquish it five laps later. The Newhall, Calif., native fell back and ran just inside the top five for much of the race.
He made his charge to the front on a restart following the fourth and final caution of the event – taking the lead on Lap 115 and stretching that margin to win by 2.259 seconds.
Derek Thorn – who leads the championship standings – also made a late-race charge, but had to settle for second. Hayley, who for the sixth time this year won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award by Coors Brewing Co., in qualifying, came home third.
Fifteen-year-old Giles Thornton finished fourth, followed by Patrick Staropoli – who was making his series debut. Michael Self, who dominated much of the race in leading 78 laps, faded to sixth at the finish. Dylan Lupton, Travis Milburn, Braeden Havens and Luis Tyrrell rounded out the top 10.
The race featured four lead changes among three drivers. The pace of the event was slowed by four cautions for 26 laps.
Thorn continues to lead the championship standings with a 23-point edge over Hayley – 431 to 408. Self is third with 402, followed by Pursley with 400 and Lupton with 362. Completing the top 10 in points are Taylor Cuzick at 327, Carl Harr at 323, Daryl Harr at 308, Thornton at 307 and Dylan Hutchison at 298.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is back in action on Sept. 14, for the iON Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park.
NASCAR PR
