HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks continued to dominate the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2016 as sophomore driver Justin Haley gave the organization its fourth straight series championship. Haley and Kyle Benjamin battled for the title throughout the year with the HScott Motorsports driver pulling away in the final weeks thanks to consistency. The No. 5 Chevrolet won early in the year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and never finished outside of the top 10. In fact, Haley had only one result (Mobile International Speedway) outside of the top-five. But Benjamin gave him a run for his money. The driver of the No. 40 car earned victories at Iowa Speedway, Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Dover International Speedway, giving him the most wins and most laps led (582) on the circuit. He could not match Haley’s consistency, however, and the championship point margin was 22. Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland, Corey LaJoie, Spencer Davis, Tyler Dippel and Chad Finchum also visited Victory Lane this season.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
HALEY HUSTLES TO EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

AWARD SHOW

CHAMPION: Justin Haley

TOP NEWCOMER:

Tyler Dippel

BEST RACE:

Stafford 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway

BEST MOMENT:

Chad Finchum claiming his first win for Martin-McClure Racing at Bristol Motor Speed way

VAN WIERINGEN SETTLES IN

Dominique Van Wieringen’s rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East was quite eventful. She and her No. 30 team struggled early and they didn’t earn a top-five finish until 12 races into the schedule. The Canadian driver, however, was determined to prove she belongs in NASCAR racing.

At Stafford Motor Speed way in June, Van Wieringen was poised to take her Mark Rette-owned team to Victory Lane. But on Lap 91, she wrecked, finishing 16th. As the season rolled on, she continued to pick up momentum. Van Wieringen finished inside of the top five in each of the final three races with career-best results – third-place finishes – coming at Greenville-Pickens Speed way and Dover International Speedway.

Sixteen-year-old Todd Gilliland, son of longtime NASCAR racer David Gilliland, dominated the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West field this season, earning six victories and finishing outside of the top eight only once – on the serpentine circuit at Sonoma Raceway. The 16-year-old North Carolina racer, driving the No. 16 Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing, had a streak of three consecutive victories during the summer that propelled him to the top of the series standings over Ryan Partridge. Partridge controlled the series for the first seven races, but wins late in the year at Douglas County Speedway and in the season-finale at All American Speedway, were not enough to keep Gilliland from claiming the prestigious series title. Gilliland’s teammate, Chris Eggleston, won a pair of races this season, while NASCAR Next member Noah Gragson and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular Chase Elliott also visited Victory Lane with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. NASCAR K&N Pro Series West GILLILAND GRABS THE CROWN

AWARD SHOW

CHAMPION:

Todd Gilliland

TOP NEWCOMER:

Julia Landauer

BEST RACE: Toyota 150 at Colorado Nat’l Speed way

BEST MOMENT: Todd Gilliland’s victory at Evergreen Speedway

JULIA LANDAUER’S JOURNE Y

Julia Landauer’s life has been quite the adventure. It’s taken her from a New York City classroom, to being a “Survivor” contestant and, of course, a NASCAR stock car driver. Entering this season, team owner Bill McAnally signed her to compete full time in the K&N Pro Series West after winning the 2015 NASCAR Whelen All-American track title at Virginia’s Motor Mile Speedway. The Stanford University graduate impressed those in the NASCAR world this season by finishing fourth in the series standings. She earned seven top-five finishes and 13 top- 10 results in 14 races. While Landauer came 66 points shy of winning the title, she proved to be a legit competitor. Though she failed to lead a lap, her fourth-place finish in the series standings was the best by a female racer, beating Kenzie Ruston’s top result of sixth.