DAYTONA BEACH, FL :: The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West travel to Iowa Speedway on Friday, Aug. 2, for the second of two East-West combination races on the Newton, Iowa track this year. Below is a statistical look at the recent performance of the series and selected drivers at Iowa, as well as some other statistical trends:
Iowa Race Setup
• Dylan Kwasniewski, the 2012 champion in the K&N Pro Series West, has built up a 23-point lead over Brett Moffitt in the championship standings for the K&N Pro Series East. The 18-year-old from Las Vegas has three wins in the first eight races this season.
• Fueled by two straight wins, Derek Thorn has extended his lead to 13 points in the championship standings in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Thorn has three wins this season in the first seven races.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West Combination Races At Iowa
• There have been eight previous East-West combination races at Iowa Speedway – one each year from 2007-2011, two in 2012 and one earlier this year.
• Iowa Speedway is located about 30 miles east of Des Moines. It was designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace. The track opened in September of 2006.
• The eight East-West combination events have resulted in eight different winners – Joey Logano (2007), Brian Ickler (2008), Kyle Busch (2009), Max Gresham (2010), Brett Moffitt (2011), Chase Elliott (May 2012), Corey LaJoie (Aug. 2012) and Michael Self (June 2013).
• The eight events have also produced eight different Coors Light Pole winners – Kevin Harvick (2007), Austin Dillon (2008), Kyle Busch (2009), David Mayhew (2010), Matt DiBenedetto (2011), Brett Moffitt (May 2012), Cale Conley (Aug. 2012) and Anderson Bowen (June 2013).
• Kyle Busch was the only driver to win the E-W race at Iowa from the pole. Chase Elliott started the furthest back and won, coming from 15th on the grid last year.
• Brett Moffitt has the most top-five finishes in E-W action at Iowa, with four, and the most top 10 finishes, with five.
• With an average of 5.33, Elliott and Jesus Hernandez have the best average finish among drivers with at least three starts in E-W competition at Iowa.
• Moffitt has led the most laps of competition in E-W action at Iowa, leading the way for 387 circuits.
• Eric Holmes is the only driver to start all eight E-W combination races at Iowa.
• Three of the eight East-West combination races at Iowa were extended by a late-race caution for a green-white-checkered finish, including the one earlier this year.
• Chevrolet has gone to Victory Lane in four E-W events at Iowa, while Toyota has three wins and Ford has one.
• 158 different drivers have competed in the eight E-W combination events at Iowa.
Iowa Speedway Data
Race: (8/2/13)
East – #9 of 15
West – #8 of 15
Track Layout: .875-mile, paved oval
Banking: 10 degrees in the tri-oval, 4 degrees on the backstretch, 12-14 degrees in the turns
Race Length: 150 laps (131.25 miles)
Overall Records
1-lap Qualifying: Kyle Busch, 23.250 seconds, 135.484 mph, May 17, 2009
150-lap Race: Corey LaJoie, 1 hour 28 minutes 36 seconds, 88.883 mph, Aug. 3, 2012
Overall Comb. Race Winners at Iowa
Kyle Busch, 1
Chase Elliott, 1
Max Gresham, 1
Brian Ickler, 1
Corey LaJoie, 1
Joey Logano, 1
Brett Moffitt, 1
Michael Self, 1
Overall Comb. Pole Winners at Iowa
Anderson Bowen, 1
Kyle Busch, 1
Cale Conley, 1
Matt DiBenedetto, 1
Austin Dillon, 1
Kevin Harvick, 1
David Mayhew, 1
Brett Moffitt, 1
EAST DRIVERS
Mackena Bell (No. 27 Toyota Racing Development Toyota)
• One top five, two top 10s in 14 career series starts
• Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
• Best career finish of fifth, earlier this season at Richmond
• Average finish this season of 13.4
• Eleventh in K&N East championship standings
• Best overall finish of 22nd (earlier this year) in two E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 29.0
Cale Conley (No. 47 Tait Towers Toyota)
• One win, two poles, six top fives, seven top 10s in 26 career series starts
• Best finish this season – second
• Average finish this season of 13.0
• Tenth in K&N East championship standings
• One top five, three top 10s in three E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in May of 2012
• Led four laps at Iowa, while contending for win in May of 2012
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 5.66
Gray Gaulding (No. 20 Krispy Kreme Toyota)
• One pole, one top five and five top 10s in eight career series starts
• Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
• Became the youngest pole winner in series history at Richmond (15 years, 2 months, 15 days)
• Best career series finish of second, earlier this year at Pensacola
• Average finish this season of 10.9
• Seventh in K&N East championship standings
• Overall finish of ninth in June in only E-W start at Iowa
Brandon Gdovic (No. 46 WindStax.com/Aquis Communications Toyota)
• One win, nine top fives, 19 top 10s in 33 career series starts
• Scored first career series win earlier this year at Greenville
• Average finish this season of 9.1
• Fifth in K&N East championship standings
• Best finish of 11th in four E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 22.5
Ryan Gifford (No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NTI Toyota)
• One win, one pole, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s in 48 career series starts
• Scored first career series win earlier this season at Richmond
• Average finish this season of 8.9
• Fourth in K&N East championship standings
• One top 10 in five E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of sixth in 2011
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 23.4
Ben Kennedy (No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet)
• Two wins, two poles, six top fives, 16 top 10s in 35 career series starts
• First two career series wins came earlier this season
• Average finish this season of 8.5
• Third in K&N East championship standings
• Best overall finish of 12th, earlier this year, in four E-W combination races
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 23.0
Dylan Kwasniewski (No. 98 Royal Purple/Rockstar Chevrolet)
• 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion
• Three wins, one pole, six top fives, eight top 10s in 11 career starts in the K&N East
• All three wins came this season
• Average finish this season of 5.4
• Leads K&N East championship standings
• One top five, three top 10s in four E-W combination races at Iowa, including East & West starts
• Best overall E-W finish of second earlier this year
Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 Grimm Construction Toyota)
• Six wins, two poles, 29 top fives, 80 top 10s in 166 career series starts
• Best finish this season – fourth
• Average finish this season of 9.1
• Sixth in K&N East championship standings
• One top five, four 10s in seven E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in 2011
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 14.0
Brett Moffitt (No. 11 Aisin Toyota)
• Nine wins, 10 poles, 32 top fives, 40 top 10s in 55 career series starts
• Best finish this season – second, on two occasions
• Average finish this season of 7.4
• Second in K&N East championship standings
• One win, four top fives, five top 10s in six E-W races at Iowa
• Win was in 2011
• Has led 387 laps in E-W competition at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 6.16
Bryan Ortiz (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota)
• Two top fives, 13 top 10s in 22 career series starts
• Best career series finish of third
• Best finish this season – sixth
• Average finish this season of 14.4
• Twelfth in K&N East championship standings
• Best finish of 12th (May 2012) in three E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 13.0
Kenzie Ruston (No. 34 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet)
• Three top fives, four top 10s in eight career series starts in rookie season
• Best career finish of third, earlier this year at Greenville – best finish by a female driver in series history
• Leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings
• Average finish this season of 11.0
• Eighth in K&N East championship standings
• Finished 41st overall in only E-W start at Iowa in May
• This will be her first NKNPS East appearance at Columbus
Daniel Suárez (No. 69 Rev Racing Toyota)
• One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s in 24 career series starts
• Scored first career series win at Columbus, in most recent series event
• Average finish this season of 11.5
• Ninth in K&N East championship standings
• One top 10 in four E-W races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of 10th in August of 2012
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 16.75
WEST DRIVERS
Taylor Cuzick (No. 42 Freightliner of Arizona Chevrolet)
• One top five, seven top 10s in 17 career series starts
• Best career series finish of fourth
• Best finish this season of seventh, on two occasions
• Average finish this season of 15.0
• Seventh in championship standings
• Best finish of 30th overall in two E-W races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 30.5
Carl Harr (No. 02 WestWorld Computers Chevrolet)
• 16 top 10s in 68 career series starts
• Best career series finish of seventh, on three occasions
• Best finish this season – 11th
• Average finish this season of 14.57
• Sixth in K&N West championship standings
• Best finish of 26th overall (Aug. 2012) in two E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 27.5
Daryl Harr (No. 01 iWorld Connect Chevrolet)
• Six top fives, 33 top 10s in 111 career series starts
• Best career series finish of second, earlier this year at Lebanon
• Average finish this season of 15.86
• Ninth in K&N West championship standings
• Best finish of 16th overall (2010) in seven E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 23.85
Cameron Hayley (No. 24 Cabinets By Hayley Ford)
• Three poles, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s in 26 career series starts
• Best career series finish of second, on four occasions
• Best finish this season – second, on two occasions
• Average finish this season of 4.28
• Third in K&N West championship standings
• Best finish of eighth overall (June 2013) in three E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 15.0
Eric Holmes (No. 16 NAPA Toyota)
• NASCAR K&N Pro Series West three-time champion
• 17 wins, 13 poles, 56 top fives, 75 top 10s in 95 career series starts
• Best finish in five starts this season – fifth
• Average finish this season of 8.4
• Fourteenth in K&N West championship standings, with five starts
• One top 10 in eight E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of 10th in 2010
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 26.37
Dylan Hutchison (No. 5 Karl Kustom/Bay Bio Diesel Chevrolet)
• One top five, five top 10s in 19 career series starts
• Best career series finish of fifth, earlier this season
• Average finish this season of 16.71
• Tenth in championship standings
• Finished 27th overall earlier this year in only E-W start at Iowa
David Mayhew (No. 17 MMI Chevrolet)
• Four wins, eight poles, 32 top fives, 50 top 10s in 69 career series starts
• Best finish in two starts this season – fourth
• Three top fives in seven E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in 2009
• Won overall Coors Light Pole Award in 2010
• Led 86 laps in E-W competition at Iowa, all in 2010
• Average finish in E-W event of 17.28
Greg Pursley (No. 26 GPM/Star Nursery/Real Water Ford)
• 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion
• 14 wins, 17 poles, 40 top fives, 55 top 10s in 77 career series starts
• One win this season, season opener at Phoenix
• Average finish this season of 7.57
• Fourth in K&N West championship standings
• Two top fives, three top 10s in seven E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of fourth, on two occasions
• Average finish in E-W events of 18.14
Michael Self (No. 21 RCR/Golden Gate Meat Co. Chevrolet)
• Six wins, 18 top fives, 27 top 10s in 50 career series starts
• Reeled off three consecutive wins earlier this year
• Average finish this season of 4.28
• Second in K&N West championship standings
• One win, two top 10s in five E-W starts at Iowa
• Became first K&N West driver to win overall event, with victory at Iowa in June
• Average finish in E-W events of 16.8
Derek Thorn (No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil/ Eibach Ford)
• Five wins, two poles, 21 top fives, 23 top 10s in 28 career series starts
• Three wins this season
• Average finish this season of 4.42
• Leads K&N West championship standings
• Best finish of 18th overall, earlier this year, in three E-W starts at Iowa
• Average finish in E-W events of 23.66
