Griffin’s Max Gresham Wins NASCAR K&N Race From Pole

LOUDON, NH — Max Gresham overcame an early pit-road miscue to win the New England 125 Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is the second win of the season and fourth career victory for Gresham, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points leader.

The Griffin, GA, driver won the pole in Thursday’s qualifying and led most of the early laps in Friday’s race. However, while most of the lead cars pitted on Lap 48, miscommunication between Gresham, his crew chief and spotter caused the Joe Gibbs Racing development driver to stay out a lap longer. The miscue meant Gresham restarted 21st after the cycle of pit stops and he had to work his way through the field.

Gresham took the lead from runner-up Brett Moffitt on Lap 113 and pulled away over the closing laps.

Corey  LaJoie finished third, followed by fellow rookie Brandon Gdovic and Benny Gordon.

Alex Bowman, Daniel Suárez, Sergio Peña, Eddie MacDonald and Dawsonville’s Chase Elliott rounded out the top 10.

Gresham led a race-high 53 laps. Low finishes for championship contenders Matt DiBenedetto (27th) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (30th) allowed Gresham to push his points lead to 94 over Moffitt, who moved to second.  DiBenedetto dropped to third in points, 125 behind, and Wallace is fourth, 139 back. Peña rounds out the top five.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-New England 125 Unofficial Results
(Start position in parentheses)

1. (1) Max Gresham, Griffin, Ga., Toyota, 125 laps, 78.152 mph.

2. (7) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Toyota, 125.

3. (5) Corey LaJoie, Concord, N.C., Dodge, 125.

4. (16) Brandon Gdovic, Yorktown, Va., Dodge, 125.

5. (4) Benny Gordon, DuBois, Pa., Chevrolet, 125.

6. (19) Alex Bowman, Tucson, Ariz., Toyota, 125.

7. (9) Daniel Suárez, Monterrey, Mexico, Toyota, 125.

8. (3) Sergio Peña, Winchester, Va., Toyota, 125.

9. (33) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 125.

10. (10) Chase Elliott, Dawsonville, Ga., Chevrolet, 125.

11. (18) Dylan Presnell, Sevierville, Tenn., Toyota, 125.

12. (14) Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn., Toyota, 125.

13. (8) D.J. Shaw, Conway, N.H., Chevrolet, 125.

14. (11) Jimmy Weller, Hubbard, Ohio, Toyota, 125.

15. (20) Chad Boat, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet, 125.

16. (34) Cody Hodgson, Escalon, Calif., Dodge, 125.

17. (21) Robert Johnson, Hamptonville, N.C., Chevrolet, 125.

18. (13) Corey Williams, Boothbay, Maine, Chevrolet, 125.

19. (23) Dale Quarterley, Westfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 125.

20. (29) Spencer Gallagher, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 125.

21. (15) Brandon McReynolds, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 125.

22. (28) Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Toyota, 125.

23. (26) Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va., Chevrolet, 125.

24. (24) Tanner Whitten, Congerville, Ill., Chevrolet, 124.

25. (22) Julian Albarracin, Bogota, Columbia, Dodge, 124.

26. (35) Clay Campbell, Martinsville, Va., Chevrolet, 124.

27. (6) Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif., Toyota, 122.

28. (27) Michelle Theriault, Bristol, Conn., Toyota, 119.

29. (36) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 106, engine.

30. (2) Darrell Wallace, Jr., Mobile, Ala., Toyota, 103.

31. (32) Andrew Smith, Pooler, Ga., Chevrolet, 94, handling.

32. (12) Ben Kennedy, Daytona Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 83.

33. (25) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Quebec, Chevrolet, 55, accident.

34. (31) Ryan Reed, Bakersfield, Calif., Toyota, 43, accident.

35. (30) Michael Cherry, Valrico, Fla., Toyota, 14, engine.

36. (17) Joey Polewarczyk, Hudson, N.H., Chevrolet, 13, accident.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 41 minutes 32 seconds

Margin of Victory: 1.214 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: M.Gresham (127.130 mph, 29.96 seconds)

Caution Flags: 5 for 21 laps.

Lead Changes: 6 among 6 drivers.