Turner Scott Motorsports NKNPSE NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 Post Race Report

Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) was able to visit victory lane for the third time in 2014 in just the seventh race of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) season. As an organization, TSM had an up-and-down day in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 at the “Madhouse” of Bowman Gray Stadium. Coming off a win at Iowa a few weeks ago, Ben Rhodes entered Bowman Gray riding a wave of momentum. Rhodes kept that rolling by capturing his fourth-career 21 Means 21 Pole Award to start the night. The pole award would prove to be a boost for Rhodes as he went on to lead all but one lap en route to his third-career NKNPSE victory. Brandon Jones was able to overcome some early adversity and score a huge top-five finish, while Grala, Heckert and Hayley suffered setbacks in the race.

 

Ben Rhodes:

Rhodes started his night off in grand style capturing his fourth 21 Means 21 Pole Award of 2014. Starting on the pole allowed the NASCAR Next driver to dictate how he ran the race, as well as keeping Rhodes out of the majority of carnage that the “Madhouse” can produce. Rhodes fended off several challenges from competitors looking to make a move underneath of the 17-year-old, however, Rhodes was able to hold off all advances. Rhodes led 151 out of the extended 152 laps en route to his third NKNPSE victory of 2014. The win in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 extends Rhodes lead in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings to 49 points heading into Five Flags Speedway in a couple of weeks.

 

Ben Rhodes on his win at Bowman Gray:

“This was a race that I wasn’t sure how it would go. It is such an exciting track for the fans, but very nerve-racking for the drivers. To win a big race at Bowman Gray, you have to have a great team, a great car and some luck. We were able to pull out the victory, and that is really cool because of the history of this place. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet.”

 

Ben Rhodes on extending his points lead:

“I am very fortunate to be in the position I am and be surrounded by such a great team.  My crew chief Mark McFarland is one of the best in the business and my entire Turner Scott Motorsports team works very hard in the shop and at the track to make sure I have a fast Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet.  We do have a decent points lead, but there is still a lot of racing to go this year. We are just going to keep doing what we are doing and hope to continue the great season we have had.”

 

Brandon Jones:

Jones entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 at Bowman Gray coming off a ton of momentum from the night before, bringing home a top-five finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway. Jones had quite the up-and-down night at the “Madhouse,” starting the race from the 11th position. The first caution of the race would involve Jones’ No. 33 Wolfpack Energy Services Chevy. Jones was able to continue on from the incident without losing a lap. Another incident on the racetrack, however, would unfortunately put Jones down a lap to the race leader. The 17-year-old was able to earn his lap back on lap 85 during a caution period as Jones was awarded the free pass. This would prove to be the turning point of the race, as Jones continued to work his way through the field. By the final restart of the race, Jones was up to the sixth position. The 17-year-old gained a couple positions on the final restart, ultimately bringing home a fourth-place finish. Jones now has three top-five finishes in 2014 and currently sits sixth in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings.

 

Brandon Jones on his top five at Bowman Gray:

“What a weekend overall for this entire No. 33 Wolfpack Energy Services team. We came from Dover with a ton of momentum from our fourth-place finish, and I think it definitely carried over to Bowman Gray. We got caught up in some earlier incidents on track, but these guys never gave up believing in our team and we were able to overcome those setbacks. I’m so proud to be coming out of Bowman Gray with a top five, and can’t wait to get on track at Pensacola in a few weeks.”

 

Kaz Grala:

Grala came into the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 looking to rebound from an unfortunate accident at Iowa Speedway a few weekends ago. The 15-year-old looked to gain valuable experience and bring home a solid finish in what was his first-career start at Bowman Gray Stadium. Grala began the night qualifying for the event in the seventh position. Carnage started early, as it often does at “The Madhouse,” as Grala got turned around prior to the first lap being completed. The 15-year-old was able to continue on, however, he would be involved in another incident on lap 18 that the No. 31 OzLINK team would have to overcome. Grala would fall multiple laps down to the leaders following a trip down pit road to repair some of the damage. The 15-year-old spent the rest of the race methodically working his way back through the field as he looked to regain the laps he lost while on pit road. The caution on lap 144 allowed Grala to regain one of the laps he lost by way of the free pass. Time would run out on the 15-year-old in terms of trying to get back on the lead lap, as Grala would finish the race in the 11th position, one lap down. Grala remains 10th in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings heading into Five Flags Speedway in a few weeks.

 

Kaz Grala on his race at Bowman-Gray:

“Bowman Gray was a unique race, just as we expected it would be. Our bad chain of events started on lap one when we involved in an incident and it only got worse from there, as we lost laps on pit road. We were able to miss every wreck from that point forward, which is definitely an accomplishment at Bowman Gray. The No. 31 OzLINK Chevy was fast this weekend, and even though we weren’t on the lead lap, we were still passing cars that were. We made the most of an unfortunate situation with an 11th-place finish and I look forward to racing at Pensacola in a few weeks.”

 

Scott Heckert:

Heckert entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 with a ton of momentum coming off a career-best finish at Iowa the last time the NKNPSE was on track. Heckert used the momentum to his advantage as he qualified on the outside of the front row for the race. When the race began, it was clear Heckert’s plan was to remain calm and ride around logging laps due to the style of racing the “Madhouse” typically produces. Heckert settled into the third position and remained inside the top five for the race’s opening 100 laps. As the laps continued to wind down, Heckert began to set up a move to work his way to the front. The 20-year-old was riding in the third position when, on lap 144, Heckert got tangled up with another competitor on the racetrack. Unfortunately, the incident caused the No. 34 to lose two laps and ultimately ruin what would have been a solid finish for Heckert. The 20-year-old ended up finishing in the 12th position in the race. Heckert now sits 13th in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings following Bowman Gray.

 

Scott Heckert on his race at Bowman Gray:

“The guys gave me an awesome car for the race at Bowman Gray. I felt like we had a shot at winning the race just with how great my car was handling. Unfortunately, Iwe were involved in a late race incident. All part of racing at the ‘Madhouse.’ Proud of the guys for helping us prove we are going to be contenders week in and week out. I’m ready to put together another solid run with the No. 34 Chevy at Pensacola in a few weeks.”

 

Cameron Hayley:

Hayley entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 looking to get his 2014 season back on track following Iowa. The 17-year-old qualified for the race in the 15th position. When the race began, Hayley looked to work his way up through the field. With the close-quarter racing and massive carnage that typically ensues at Bowman Gray Stadium, Hayley knew heading into the race that he would have to be patient. An incident on lap 18 caused quite a bit of damage to the No. 98 Cabinets by Hayley Chevy. Hayley was able to continue on and by lap 77, Hayley was back into the ninth position. Hayley looked as though he had a car capable of getting to the front and challenging for the lead, however, another incident on lap 85 would prove to be the end of Hayley’s charge to the front. The accident took the radiator off of the No. 98 and forced Hayley to bring his machine to the garage. The No. 98 Cabinets by Hayley crew was able to repair the damage and get Hayley back onto the racetrack, although now several laps down. Overall, Hayley would finish the race in the 18th position and currently sits fourth in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings.

 

Cameron Hayley on his race at Bowman Gray:

“Very unfortunate night for our No. 98 Cabinets by Hayley team. I think we had a really fast racecar, and our finish unfortunately doesn’t show that. We need to start putting together solid finishes and working our way back towards the front in the Point Standings. Overall, I think we have the team capable of doing that and I look forward to getting to Pensacola in a few weeks.”

 

What’s Next – The NKNPSE will head to Five Flags Speedway on June 13 for the eighth race of the 2014 season.

 

TSM PR