NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Rookie Gracin Raz Rallies to First Win While Eggleston Leads Points

Before reaching the All American Speedway in Roseville, California Gracin Raz said he had the car to beat and he proved this by taking the 21 Means 21 Pole Award present by Coors Light

During the race Gracin Raz fell back as far as 12th place; however, in NASCAR, and most forms of motorsports, at the end the day only one lap matters and that is the last one

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West had one of the closest point battles seen in the history of the series going into the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Axle Crutch at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. After the penultimate race in the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season the points chase only became more intense as the top four in championship points are now within 12 points of each other.

Going into the second to last race of the season at All-American Spedway there were only 16 points between points leader Noah Gragson and fourth in points Gracin Raz. A good finish in this race could have had a serious effect on the outcome of the points chase. Before reaching the track, Gracin Raz had his sight on placing his no.27 Montana Tech Ford Fusion in Victory Lane. The Lake Oswego, Oregon native said he knew “we were going to be the car to beat.” He proved his statement to be true by taking the Coors Light 21 Means 21 pole award and leading the field to green for the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Axle Crutch.

During the race Gracin Raz fell back as far as 12th place. However, in NASCAR, and most forms of motorsports, at the end the day only one lap matters and that is the last one. On a green-white-checkered restart the 18-year-old Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender started on the bottom row in third. Raz managed a hard charge past Chris Eggleston, who’s currently second in points, and then past race leader Alex Schutte on the last lap to take the lead. This carried the Jefferson-Pitts driver on to capture his first win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and the third for the newly founded team.

On a green-white-checkered flag restart Gracin Raz started on the bottom row in third and managed a hard charge past Chris Eggleston as well as Alex Schutte to take the lead for the win

Gracin Raz’s hard charge on the final lap of the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Axle Crutch carried the Jefferson-Pitts driver on to capture his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West win

Points leader Noah Gragson rallied his way to the front of the pack early on in the race. Unfortunately for Gragson, a late race altercation with Chris Eggleston caused Gragson to finish 8th and he surrendered the points lead to Eggleston. Gracin Raz was followed by Alex Schutte in second and Chris Eggleston in third. David Mayhew and Braeden Havens rounded out the top 5 for the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Axle Crutch at All American Speedway in Roseville, California.

Chris Eggleston currently leads the championship points going into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season finale Casino Arizona 100 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2015. Only 4 points behind Eggleston is previous points leader Noah Gragson, followed by Gracin Raz and Ryan Partridge. There is a mere 12 point spread between 1st and 4th going in to the final race of the season and the championship is still up for grabs.

Story Author: Hannah Newhouse Hannah is an 18-year old sophomore at Boise State University in search of her marketing degree. Along with a full-time college schedule, she competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and traveling super late model series. If not behind the wheel of a car, Hannah plans to make her career in the field of marketing and public relations for the world of motorsports.