Self Takes Win In East-West Race At Iowa
Michael Self during practice at Iowa Speedway (photo by Oskaloosa News)
First K&N West Driver To Take Overall Victory In Combo Race
NEWTON, Iowa – Michael Self continued his winning ways Friday night at Iowa Speedway.
The 22-year-old from Park City, Utah, pulled away from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series field en route to the win in the Casey’s General Store 150. It was Self’s second straight win, his fifth in his last 14 races, and he became the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver to win the annual combination race with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
Self also became the eighth different overall winner in eight NASCAR K&N Pro Series combination races at Iowa.
A late caution pushed the scheduled 150-lap event to 159 laps. Dylan Kwasniewski recovered from a spin early in the event to take second. The defending West Series champion is running full-time in the East this year and was the highest finishing East driver.
Brett Moffitt finished third, followed by Greg Pursley and Ben Rhodes.
Self, Kwasniewski, Moffitt and Rhodes were among a group of 13 up-and-coming drivers named to the NASCAR Next program, an industry initiative designed to spotlight the rising stars in the sport. Led by Self’s dominating performance, the group certainly didn’t disappoint Friday night.
NASCAR Next Roster For 2013 Announced
Cole Custer, Cale Conley, Cameron Hayley, Gray Gaulding and Matt Tifft rounded out the top 10.
Derek Thorn finished 18th overall and was able to maintain a six-point lead in the K&N Pro Series West over Self, Pursley and Hayley. All three have the same point total, with Self in second in the standings with two wins and Pursley third with one win. In the K&N Pro Series East, Moffitt leads Kwasniewski by five points and Ben Kennedy by 17.
Earlier in the day, 15-year-old Anderson Bowen won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Brewing Co. in his first career start. He wound up 14th overall.
The Casey’s General Store 150 is scheduled to air on SPEED on Thursday, June 13, at 3 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will head down the highway and compete in the Toyota/G-Oil 150 at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Mo. on Sunday. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will next race Saturday, June 22 at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va.
