The 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship came down to the last lap of the season and when the smoke cleared at Rockingham Speedway, rookie Kyle Larson won his first NASCAR title. It marks the first NASCAR touring championship for Rev Racing and NASCAR Drive for Diversity.
The 20-year-old Larson, from Elk Grove, Calif., also won the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year, joining only Joey Logano and Ryan Truex in the 26-year history of the series to accomplish that feat of earning the championship in their rookie years.
“I’ve been lucky a lot this year … and just stayed consistent and got the championship,” Larson said. “It feels great. I have to thank the whole Rev Racing team, Toyota and everyone that helps out on this team, and the NASCAR diversity program for giving me this opportunity to run.”
Larson will be crowned the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion at the NASCAR Touring Awards on Dec. 10 at in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Tyler Reddick, 16, earned the victory in the Classic 3 Championship presented by RCR Racing Museum in a wild finish. Reddick, who was making his series debut, got a run on race leader – and championship contender – Brett Moffitt coming out of Turn 2 toward the checkered flag. Moffitt came up on Reddick, made contact, and went spinning onto the grass. Reddick then came around to take the yellow and checkered flags.
A sixth-place finish by Larson was enough to give him the title by 15 points over Corey LaJoie. LaJoie also finished second to Reddick in Saturday’s race.
Moffitt, who was in position to clinch the title if he would have avoided the accident on the final lap for the win, finished the race 21st and third in points, 24 points back.
Kwasniewski Can Claim Title
Dylan Kwasniewski, 17, heads into the final race weekend for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Phoenix International Raceway with a slim two-point lead over teammate Greg Pursley. The veteran Pursley is the defending series champion, while Kwasniewski was the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year last season. The Casino Arizona 50 will be Saturday at 5 p.m.
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