Kyle Larson wins at the Rock

Kyle Larson in Victory Lane
Photo Credit: Genevieve

Kyle Larson dominated the second annual North Carolina Education Lottery Camping World Truck race at Rockingham Speedway. This was Larson’s first win in the national series, and it was in a truck for Turner Scott Motorsports.  He won NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East title in November 2012.

  

 Larson started the race in third position, quickly took the lead, and held it for a total of 187 laps. The other leaders were James Buescher for 17 laps, and Johnny Sauter for one lap. The race was extended by five laps because of the green-white-checkered finish.

The 20 year-old California native is a Drive for Diversity graduate, and admits to not doing well with re-starts. In the final laps, he knew Joey Logano was coming from behind with fresher tires. He admitted to being nervous because “I’m not normally the best on re-starts.”

Many NASCAR fans, and writers have expressed their opinion on Sprint Cup drivers racing alongside rookies, and the younger class of drivers- Larson expressed his approval by telling press in a post race conference that he is “thankful to beat a guy like Logano, (for) my first win.”

Logano finished second, Brendon Gaughan finished third.

Post race interview
Photo Credit: Genevieve

Pole sitter Jeb Burton didn't get a chance to lead a lap, he fell back and maintained a top ten position until the checkered flag-  he crossed the finish line in seventh position. Burton was the highest finishing rookie.

In 2008, Logano won the Arca Series race from the pole at Rockingham, today was his first truck race at “The Rock.”  His Penske teammate Brad Keselowski asked him at the ‘last minute’ to race in a truck for Brad Keselowski Racing-  Logano is always willing to get into anything to race, and agreed to pilot the No. 19 Carbon Forged Reese Towpower Ford.

Logano fell as far back as 18^th , but quickly moved up to second in the final ten laps.  Tension built as Larson held on to the lead but Logano came up behind him like jaws underwater... and then caution! With three laps left, three accidents took place at the same time.

First, Tyler Young slaps the wall in turn three. 

Second, Timothy Peters and Ryan Sieg collide, damaging Peter's truck.

Third, Ron Hornaday taps Darrell Wallace Jr. In the rear and puts him hard into the wall, and Wallace's truck was severely damaged.  Hornaday was sent to the rear of the field for aggressive driving – but managed a 15^th place finish.

On the final re-start, Larson took control of the lead as soon as the green flag dropped. He held a four car length between his-self and Logano, but in the final backstretch, Logano caught up and stayed close to the No. 20 Chevy. It was a close finish, but Larson crossed the finish line first. 

Johnny Sauter finished fourth, and now leads the series points standings by 16 points over Jeb Burton- whom started on the pole and finished seventh, and is the highest finishing rookie of the day.

Larson in the lead
Photo Credit: Genevieve