NMS: Ruben Pardo Takes Home Toyota 120 Win

Ruben Pardo took home the victory Friday night at the Phoenix International Raceway in the Toyota 120. Pardo led throughout the course of the event after things got shuffled in the last 75 percent of the race. Being patient was the key thing for the 35-year old even though he started on pole earlier in the day with a time of 28.544 seconds, 126.121 mph.

Luis Felipe Montano will leave the Phoenix International Raceway with the runner-up spot. Montano started the 120-lap race from the 14th starting position and slowly worked his way up to the front once the green flag flown. The 39-year old came 0.357 seconds shy of scoring his second career victory.

Hugo Oliveras came across the line in third when the checkered flag flown to end the race. Oliveras stayed upfront all evening in his No. 11 Monster Energy Toyota to contend for the win. The third-place finish will give him his 14th career top five run.

Rogelio Lopez, who gave race winner Pardo a run for his money throughout the race, came home in fourth after a wild night all evening. Lopez started the event from fifth when the green flag started the race. The fifth-place run will give him his 18th career top five finish since 2011.

Abraham Calderon was one of the biggest threats coming into the race. After starting the event from third, Calderon had problems from there, even being a victim in a crash. After coming down pit road multiple times to repair damage, restarting from 21st, Calderon battled a loose race car to bring home a sixth-place finish.

Brett Winningham
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