Patrick Staropoli celebrates in victory lane at Irwindale Speedway
Photo – Victor Decologon/Getty Images
Late Pass at Irwindale Gives Staropoli his First NASCAR Win
Saturday was a day of first wins with Patrick Staropoli adding his name to the list of drivers with their first series’ wins. For Staropoli, it was his patience that paid big dividends for his first K&N Pro Series West race at Irwindale Speedway.
The 24-year-old from Plantation, FL, took the lead for the restart on lap 137, then drove to the checkered flag to win the NAPA Auto Parts 150. This race is Staropoli’s sixth career series’ start.
David Mayhew finished second, with Greg Pursley in third. Staropoli’s Bill McAnally Racing teammate and pole-sitter, Brandon McReynolds finished fourth and Dylan Lupton rounds out the top-five.
Giles Thornton was sixth, Brett Thompson seventh, then rookie Ryan Partridge finished eighth with Taylor Cuzick in ninth and Carlos Vieira finishing tenth.
In the point standings, Pursley moves six points ahead of McReynolds and Lupton, eight ahead of Giles Thornton and nine over Thompson.
Fellow K&N Pro Series East driver Ben Rhodes won his first race, Saturday at Greenville Pickens Speedway and former K&N Pro Series driver, Kyle Larson won his first Nationwide Series win at Auto Club Speedway.
The NAPA Auto Parts 150 is airing on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, April 4 at noon ET.
The next race for NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series West is at Stockton 99 Speedway on Saturday, May 3.