Second-Year Driver Makes Most of Opportunity
By: Tim Southers, NASCAR
August 8, 2014
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – In its first series race at Watkins Glen International since 2009, the NASCAR Pro Series East gave the fans a race finish to remember.
Second-year driver Scott Heckert was able to get past leader Andrew Ranger and second-place Cole Custer on the final lap of a green-white-checkered finish to score his first career victory in the action-packed Bully Hill Vineyards 125 on Friday.
After a late race caution was given to the field on Lap 50 for contact between Daniel Suarez and several cars, Ranger led Custer on the final restart at the line.
The two battled side by side until Heckert found an opportunity to make his move and get by both drivers on the final lap.
Custer made one last attempt to pass Heckert for the lead, but he lost control and hit the sand barrels at the end of pit road to bring out the final caution of the race.
Championship points leader Ben Rhodes finished third with Kaz Grala and Jesse Little completing the top five.
Brandon Jones followed in sixth with Ryan Reed seventh. NASCAR Next driver Cameron Hayley rebounded from an early-race incident to finish eighth while Kenzie Ruston and Nick Drake rounded out the top 10.
The race was slowed six times by caution with 15 cars finishing on the lead lap.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will stay on a road course for its next race in eight days with the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. on Saturday, Aug. 16th.
