Todd Gilliland Won NASCAR K&N Pro Series Debut & Eggleston Got Championship Title

16 year old J.J. Haley, driver of the No.05 Braun Auto Chevrolet, captured the 21 Means 21 pole award and Haley led all but 5 laps in the Casino Arizona 100 after cutting a tire

15-year-old Todd Gilliland made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Phoenix International Raceway and managed to take the checkered flag on lap 100

With beautiful weather, a stacked field, and four contenders with a shot at the Championship there was no doubt that the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season finale would be one to watch. Going into the last race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway only 11 points separated the top four in points. Chris Eggleston led over Noah Gragson, Gracin Raz, and Ryan Partridge respectively.

With the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season having ended in early October a handful of East series drivers made the trip out west to try their luck at the famed Phoenix International Raceway for the Casino Arizona 100. 16 year old J.J. Haley, driver of the No.05 Braun Auto Chevrolet, captured the 21 Means 21 pole award presented by Coors Light early In the day and would lead the field to green later that evening. Ryan Partridge was the highest qualifying championship contender and started 9th in his No.9 Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs Ford Fusion. Chris Eggleston qualified 15th while Jefferson Pitts Racing teammates Noah Gragson and Gracin Raz qualified 20th and 25th.

With the championship on the line, tensions were high as the sun set and the green flag flew. JJ Haley led all but 5 laps in the Casino Arizona 100 after cutting a tire and making contact with the wall. This opened up the win for 2nd and 3rd place Todd Gilliland and William Byron. 15 year old Todd Gilliland made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West that evening. He managed to take the checkered flag on lap 100 bringing home the hardware and becoming the youngest race winner in the series’ history.

Not only was Todd Gilliland successful in his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race by claiming the win; but he also become the youngest race winner in the series’ history

The Bill McCanally Racing No.99 Napa Filters Toyota driver, Chris Eggleston, finished 11th in the race but it was good enough to win the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship

Gragson and Eggleston battled late in the race, but after a last lap wreck Gragson came home in 13th place and second in the points standings. Gragson successfully earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors over his teammate Gracin Raz. The Bill McCanally Racing driver of the No.99 Napa Filters Toyota, Chris Eggleston, finished 11th in the race but it was good enough to win the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship. Ryan Partridge crossed the finish line right behind Eggleston and moved up in points to finish 3rd in the championship. The No.27 Montana Tech driver Gracin Raz lost a cylinder early in the race and later lost the motor finishing 24th and 4th overall in the season’s points standings.

Chris Eggleston, along with other top NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers will be honored at the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards at the Charlotte Convention Center/NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, December 12th, 2015.

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.