WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 8, 2008) – Matt Kobyluck won his first NASCAR Camping World Series East race at Watkins Glen International Sunday afternoon.
Kobyluck (No. 40 Mohegan Sun Chevrolet) led the final two laps in the series first trip to The Glen since 2004. Kobyluck’s previous best finish at the 2.45-mile road course was fourth.
A green-white-checkered finish necessitated by a late-race blown engine and stretched the race from its scheduled 51 laps to 55.
Marc Davis (No. 18 Slim Jim Toyota) led a total of 32 laps of the event and led the field to its final restart.
Kobyluck’s No. 40 Mohegan Sun Resort Chevrolet was fastest in responding to the green flag. Third-place Antonio Perez (No.12 Chivas Racing/Telmex Dodge) joined the fray between the start-finish line and turn one, and all three cars made contact. Kobyluck led the field into Turn 1, while both Davis and Perez limped their damaged cars around the circuit. Perez, who won the Coors Light Pole Award, finished 10th and Davis finished 13th.
Pouncing on the opportunity, a trio of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolets pushed Kobyluck for the win until a caution flag came out on the last lap.
The victory at The Glen also earned Kobyluck a secured spot in the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, scheduled for Jan. 24-25, 2009.
Jeffrey Earnhardt (No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Foundation Chevrolet) finished second, followed by Trevor Bayne (No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet Chevrolet), and Jesus Hernandez (No. 11 DEI Chevrolet). Steve Park (No. 35 Waste Management/Recycle America Dodge) finished fifth.
Completing the top-10 were Bryon Chew, Jason Holehouse, Tim Cowen, Ricky Carmichael and Perez.
Points leader Austin Dillon was 12th, while second-place Brian Ickler suffered mechanical problems and finished 24th. Dillon leads Ickler by 55, Park by 57 and Kobyluck by 63.
NASCAR Camping World Series East-East 125 At The Glen Unofficial Results
Sunday
At Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, NY
Lap length: 2.45 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 55 laps, 70.203 mph, $10,600.
2. (7) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 55, $6,500.
3. (11) Trevor Bayne, Knoxville, Tenn., Chevrolet, 55, $6,415.
4. (14) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Chevrolet, 55, $4,300.
5. (4) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Dodge, 55, $3,500.
6. (15) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 55, $2,500.
7. (17) Jason Holehouse, Toronto, Canada, Toyota, 55, $2,100.
8. (23) Tim Cowen, Ashland, Ohio, Ford, 55, $1,900.
9. (9) Ricky Carmichael, Clearwater, Fla., Chevrolet, 55, $2,375.
10. (1) Antonio Perez, Mexico City, Mex., Dodge, 55, $3,350.
11. (28) Rogelio Lopez, Aquascalientes, Mexico, Chevrolet, 55, $3,825.
12. (20) Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 55, $2,300.
13. (8) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, MD., Toyota, 54, $2,825.
14. (25) Craig Goess, Greenville, N.C., Toyota, 54, $1,750.
15. (22) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Ford, 54, $2,225.
16. (26) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 54, $1,700.
17. (24) Ryan Duff, Hazard, Ky., Chevrolet, 52, $1,675.
18. (12) Peyton Sellers, Danville, VA., Chevrolet, 52, $2,150.
19. (10) Stan Silva, Castroville, Calif., Chevrolet, 52, $1,625.
20. (27) Jeremy Clark, Concord, NC, Chevrolet, 50, $1,600.
21. (3) Max Dumarey, Gent, Belgium, Dodge, 48, engine, $1,585.
22. (18) Tim George, Jr., Novato, Calif., Chevrolet, 41, radiator, $1,575.
23. (19) Jamie Hayes, Norlina, N.C., Chevrolet, 33, accident, $2,050.
24. (6) Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif., Chevrolet, 30, clutch, $2,050.
25. (16) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 27, transmission, $2,050.
26. (5) Nick de Bruijn, Vlaardingen, Holland, Chevrolet, 25, accident, $1,550.
27. (13) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Ford, 6, engine, $2,050.
28. (21) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Dodge, 5, engine, $1,550.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 55 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: under caution
Fastest Qualifier: A.Perez (118.831 mph, 74.223 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 19 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: A.Perez 1-20; M.Davis 21-25; M.Kobyluck 26; M.Davis 27-53; M.Kobyluck 54-55.
Standings: 1. A.Dillon, 647; 2. B.Ickler, 592; 3. S.Park, 590; 4. M.Kobyluck, 584; 5. J.Earnhardt, 570; 6. T.Bayne, 556; 7. M.Davis, 552; 8. J.Hernandez, 545; 9. R.Lopez, 520;10. E.MacDonald, 505.