Sunday, March 26, 2017

Gilliland Wins First NAPA Auto Parts Twin 100



IRWINDALE, Calif. (March 25, 2017) - Todd Gilliland had them covered in the NAPA Auto Parts Twin 100 at Irwindale Speedway.

Winning a third straight pole in his No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, Gilliland swept the show with the race to win the first twin event of the night. The victory stands as the 16-year-old's ninth NASCAR K&N Pro Series career victory and the Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, native's second of 2017 and second at Irwindale overall.

Finishing 2.4 seconds in rears of the defending champion, Chris Eggleston put up a fight in his No. 99 NAPA Filters Toyota. Taking the lead on Lap 50, Eggleston lost the top spot to Gilliland with 33 laps to go. Still, the Tucson winner grabbed his fourth straight top-five finish with a second-place finish.

Garrett Archer came home third while Nicole Behar, who started from the rear, rallied back to finish fourth. The 19-year-old was followed by Will Rodgers, Solvang, California, native earned a third straight top-five finish in fifth.

The 100-lapper wasn't as easy for some competitors, however. Derek Kraus, who finished second to teammate Gilliland last time out at California's Kern County Raceway Park, cut a tire and crashed on Lap 17. The 15-year-old, Wisconsin, native finished 18th, nine laps down.

Jesse Iwuji retired due to engine failure while a two-car crash on Lap 58 collected Dan O'Donnell and Stafford Smith. Rookie Kody Vanderwal also spun in Turn 2, suffering no damage.

Michael Self, who won practice, finished sixth with Blaine Perkins, Johnny Borneman III, Matt Levin and Julia Landauer completing the top 10.

The NAPA Twin 100 will air on NBCSN Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be back in action March 25, 2017 at 9:30 p.m. PT for the NAPA Auto Parts T-100, the second feature event of the night at Irwindale Event Center.

Contact:
Brooke Franceschini
NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
(386) 631-6142
bfranceschini@nascar.com

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST-NAPA Auto Parts Twin 100s Race 1 Results
Saturday
At Irwindale (CA) Event Center
Irwindale
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Todd Gilliland, Sherrills Ford, N.C., Toyota, 100 laps, 72.845 mph.
2. (2) Chris Eggleston, Erie, Colo., Toyota, 100.
3. (5) Garret Archer, Maple Valley, Wash, Ford, 100.
4. (21) Nicole Behar, Spokane, WA, Toyota, 100.
5. (8) Will Rodgers, Solvang, Calif., Ford, 100.
6. (3) Michael Self, Park City, UT, Ford, 100.
7. (11) Blaine Perkins, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 100.
8. (10) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, CA, Ford, 100.
9. (7) Matt Levin, Tucson, Ariz., Chevrolet, 100.
10. (4) Julia Landauer, New York, N.Y., Ford, 100.
11. (12) Todd Souza, Watsonville, Calif., Toyota, 99.
12. (9) Ron Norman, Tucson, Ariz., Chevrolet, 99.
13. (14) Bill Kann, Scottsdale, Ariz., Toyota, 99.
14. (19) Kody Vanderwal, LaSalle, Colo, Ford, 98.
15. (15) Rich DeLong III, Santa Clarita, Calif., Chevrolet, 98.
16. (16) Takuma Koga, Nagoya, Japan, Chevrolet, 97.
17. (17) Dan Phillippi, Los Angeles, Calif., Ford, 94.
18. (6) Derek Kraus, Stratford, Wis., Toyota, 91.
19. (18) Stafford Smith, Eagle, Idaho., Ford, 58, accident.
20. (13) Dan O'Donnell, Oak Hills, Calif., Ford, 57, accident.
21. (20) Jesse Iwuji, Carrolton, Texas, Chevrolet, 25, engine.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 41 minutes 11 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.398 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: T.Gilliland (99.701 mph, 18.054 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 20 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T. Gilliland 1-49; C. Eggleston 50-67; T. Gilliland 68-100.
Standings: 1. C. Eggleston, 131; 2. W. Rodgers, 119; 3. N. Behar, 111; 4. G. Archer, 108;
5. D. Kraus, 106; 6. B. Perkins, 106; 7. K. Vanderwal, 101; 8. J. Landauer, 98; 9. T.
Gilliland, 95; 10. M. Levin, 95.