Chad Finchum at 8:40 pm ET on Monday, April 18, 2016 Photo – Getty Images
Chad Finchum is our guest on Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, April 18, 2016 at 8:40 pm ET. Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.
Calling Knoxville, Tennessee his home town and Bristol Motor Speedway his home track, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver, Chad Finchum captured his first series victory in the Pitt Lite 125 with Martin McClure Racing on Saturday night.
The local team is in their second season, with NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Eric McClure and Hal Martin as team owners. Early last week they announced their plans for a part-time K&N East schedule this year, with Finchum first up in their No. 39 car at Bristol.
After starting the race from fourth place, and on the 14th circuit, 21-year-old Finchum raced around the defending race winner, Kyle Benjamin, taking the top-spot. Benjamin kept charging hard from behind but was never able to take over the lead from Finchum.
Benjamin who is now the series points leader, settled for second with Kaz Grala finishing third, Justin Haley, fourth and Dillon Bassett rounding out the top-five. Collin Cabre was sixth, Gracin Raz seventh, Eddie MacDonald eighth, Todd Gilliland ninth and Riley Herbst finishing tenth.
Before Bristol, Finchum had never placed higher than seventh, which he did three times in his 13 K&N Pro Series starts. Coming off an impressive win in his season opener at Kingsport Speedway, Finchum has also earned victories in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and won the 2013 Tennessee State Championship
Bristol, Virginia native, Chris Carrier, is the crew chief for the No. 39 team, and is working closely with all the Martin McClure Racing programs. Carrier, has wins across all three of NASCAR’s national series, and served as Finchum’s crew chief in 2015. He brings veteran guidance and knowledge to the organization.
Next up on Finchum’s K&N East schedule are New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16th, Iowa Speedway on July 29th, and Dover International Speedway on September 30th.
“I am really looking forward to this season, particularly getting to start our year at Bristol,” says Finchum. “It’s an honor to be part of the MMR program. Eric & Hal have been building a strong program and to have the opportunity to represent them, as well as Reynolds Wrap, is a true blessing. We’ve achieved a great deal of success at the late model level over the years and I’m hopeful we can take another step this year.”
Fans can watch the Pitt Lite 125 on NBC Sports Network on Thursday, April 21st at 1 am ET.
Next up on the K&N Pro Series East schedule is the Biscuitville 125 at the road course of VIRginia International Raceway on Saturday, April 30th.