Allen Purkhiser looks down at the trophy for winning the All-American 250 after climbing out of his car in victory lane Saturday evening. Photo Adam Fenwick/AKFPhotos.com
Allen Purkhiser overcame a late-race battle with rookie Nathan Russell to earn his first CARS Pro Cup Series victory Saturday night during the All-American 250 at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC.
Driving the No. 68 Chevrolet for Premiere Motorsports, Purkhiser first took the lead from J.P. Morgan on lap 178 for the first time and held on through several late-race restarts and a battle with Russell at the four-tenths-mile asphalt oval.
“This means a ton,” said Purkhiser. “It means a lot to my team owner Steve Husketh. I just can’t thank him enough for keeping me around as long as he has and helping me and doing all he has for me.”
Shortly after Purkhiser got the lead, four cars spun in turns one and two, bringing out the caution flag, and setting up a restart with Purkhiser and Tyler Young on the front row. Young got the jump on Purkhiser heading into one, but contact between the leaders sent Young into the outside wall in turn two.
The field returned to racing on lap 193 with Russell now in second. Purkhiser quickly pulled away, but one final caution on lap 223 set up a battle between Purkhiser and Russell. Russell got a good restart and battled Purkhiser from the high side, even leading a few laps, but Purkhiser finally cleared him and pulled away to victory.
“I’ve got to thank him (Russell) for running so clean. It was good hard racing,” said Purkhiser. “We rubbed a little bit; a little bumping makes it exciting for the fans.”
Morgan, who qualified on the pole for the second-straight year at Ace Speedway, overcame two spins during the 250-lap event to finish second.
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Russell was the top rookie finisher, coming home in third after a thrilling battle with Purkhiser for the lead.
“We just freed it up a little bit too much at the halfway break and then I just used my stuff up trying to race Allen to the win and J.P. got under me,” Russell said. “That’s just tight short-track racing.”
Bill Plemons, Jr. and Trey Mitchell completed the top five Saturday night.
Saturday’s event was the first time the series used the new halfway break rule, which gave teams a 10-minute break following lap 125. Harrison Rhodes was the leader at the halfway break after leaders Morgan and Young made contact and spun on lap 124 in turns one and two.
The race was slowed nine times by the caution flag.
The CARS Pro Cup Series returns to action June 9 at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA.
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