LaJoie Claims First K&N Pro Series Victory At Bowman Gray

Corey LaJoie is presented with the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 winner's trophy by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Photo by Jason Smith/NASCAR

Third generation racer Corey LaJoie captured his much-anticipated first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory Saturday night in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 at historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.

LaJoie, from Concord, NC, powered the No. 07 Thermal Control Products/Sims Metal Ford to the lead on the event’s first lap, but pole-sitter Kyle Larson wrestled it away the next circuit and LaJoie ran second through the first quarter of the race. The 20-year-old regained the lead on lap 37 and held on through the balance of the event that included eight more restarts for his first trip to Victory Lane.

“To put your name on the same page as Richard Petty or Tim Flock is really incredible,” LaJoie said of joining the legendary Bowman Gray winners list. “I have a long, long, long way to go to catch up to the prestige of those guys. I’m just happy to get in victory lane once to break that barrier.”

LaJoie had finished second three times during his K&N Pro Series East career, including this race last year, and had numerous other near misses due to mechanical failures, cut tires and accidents. The NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 victory finally got him over the hump.

“I’m tired of running second,” LaJoie said. “We had such a good car all night, I’d hate to lead 140 or whatever laps and not come away with the victory.”

The second trip for NASCAR’s top development series to the famed quarter-mile saw Darrell Wallace Jr.  take second place following an action-packed green-white-checkered finish. Rookie Bryan Ortiz recorded his first podium finish in third.

“My spotter did an amazing job making sure I restarted on the bottom, and it paid off,” said Ortiz, who hails from Puerto Rico. “I’m very thankful to the team – Rev Racing – and Toyota, because of them I’m here racing and doing what I love. It wasn’t a win, but it was a good step forward for me.”

A first time series participant, Harrison Rhodes finished fourth with Larson in fifth. Chase Elliott, Brandon Gdovic, Ben Kennedy, Brett Moffitt and Eddie MacDonald brought home the top 10.

The effort by Rhodes marked the best K&N Pro Series East debut by a driver than did not have previous NASCAR touring or national series experience since Alex Bowman finished third at Greenville Pickens Speedway in the 2011 season opener.

Elliott retained the season points lead by 16 tallies on LaJoie, who jumped from fifth to second in the standings with Saturday night’s performance. Larson is in third, 20 points out.

With the victory, LaJoie has also earned a secured starting position for the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach on the short track at Daytona International Speedway during 2013 Speedweeks.

LaJoie’s victory also marked the first by a Ford in the series, dominated in the last decade by Chevrolet and more recently Toyota, in nearly seven years.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 was slowed by 10 cautions and one red flag compared to 2010’s inaugural event at the tight quarter mile than had 15 for 87 with three reds.

The K&N Pro Series East will return to action on June 9 with the Slack Auto Parts 150 at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA.

NASCAR K&N Pro East Series
Bowman Gray Stadium – Winston-Salem, NC
NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 – June 2, 2012

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