Kenzie Ruston Continues Historic March

KENZIE RUSTON CONTINUES HISTORIC MARCH

New Smyrna, FL, February 16, 2014 – Kenzie Ruston let her competition know Sunday night, she is in the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series to win. Ruston started the New Smyrna 150 in sixth position and made quick work getting to the lead. Using the outside lane from her sixth starting position, she immediately worked around Lee Pulliam, Brodie Kostecki, Brandon McReynolds, Ben Rhodes and Cameron Hayley to take the lead on lap four. By the completion of lap five, she had a six car length lead and was pulling away. In taking the lead, Ruston became the first female driver to lead a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race under green flag conditions. The last female to lead a NASCAR K&N event was Danica Patrick in 2010 at Dover.

Ruston would surrender the lead on lap nine to Gray Gaulding, as she anticipated rapid tire wear. Polesitter Cameron Hayley also dropped through the field, at one point running in tenth position, attempting to save his tires for the end of the race. Ruston ran solidly in the top five most of the event, settling in fifth place for the majority of the first 75 laps.

During the intermission at lap 75, Crew Chief Mike Fritts made several adjustments to the car to alieviate the tight condition that had plagued Ruston for the first half.  After the restart she settled in at sixth position. Ruston moved back into fifth place with 32 laps remaining, running lap times two tenths faster than the leaders.

As Ruston started battling with Cameron Hayley for the fourth position, a late caution flew with 14 laps remaining. Running in fifth would pin Ruston to the inside of row three for the restart, a position that had proven to be a disadvantage most of the evening. The green flag would be displayed with eight laps remaining in the event. Ruston made a swift move to the inside and was three wide in turn one, making contact with Lee Pulliam, who in turn, contacted Scott Heckert and sent him into the outside wall. The race remained under green, until the checkered flag flew at lap 150.

Ruston brought the Ben Kennedy Racing #96 Chevy home in sixth position. As the crew congratulated her after the race, her frustration could be felt. Ruston tweeted after the race “Excited for this year. Didn’t get the finish we deserved, but our @BKennedyRacing Chevy was fast! Can’t thank all the guys enough!”  Crew Chief Mike Fritts echoed Ruston’s excitement after the race. Fritts said, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Kenzie. She is so mature for her age and has such an understanding of what the car is doing, and what it needs to make it better. I couldn’t be more excited for the rest of the year with her.”

Team Principal Ben Kennedy, who was unable to be in attendance, tweeted: “Solid finish P6 in our season opener. Great job @KenzieRuston and @BKennedyRacing!!!!” Kennedy followed the race as many fans did, using social media and other live blogs. Kennedy, like many fans and drivers would love to see more of the NASCAR K&N races live on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. Kennedy has fully embraced his two part role in the sport as a driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and Team Principal of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team. During Daytona 500 Media Day, Kennedy said, “I think Kenzie is going to have a great year. Our guys on the team are incredible and she is a tremendous talent. There isn’t another driver I would want in that car.”

After the race when asked about the incident with the #34 of Scott Heckert, Ruston said, “it was just racing hard at the end. I didn’t mean to put those guys in the wall. I was inside of Pulliam and just didn’t have any room, I didn’t realize he was out there. I’ve got nothing against my team from last year, and I hate that incident ruined a good finish for them.” The New Smyrna 150 will be televised on Fox Sports 1, February 22 at 9:00 AM, leading into Daytona 500 Final Practice. The race will air in a condensed one-hour format.

After finishing sixth and leading a lap, Ruston is in a tie for fifth position in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East standings, nine points from the lead. The series moves to Daytona International Speedway for the UNOH Battle at the Beach Tuesday, February 18. The race from Daytona will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 at the completion of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race (approximately 8:45 PM EST). Coverage from Daytona kicks off at 7:00 PM EST. 

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For more information please contact Kyle Zimmerman at 336-575-8725 or email at KyleDZimmerman87@gmail.com.

 

 Kenzie Ruston and Ben Kennedy Racing are Powered by Sunoco, the Official Fuel of NASCAR