David Mayhew Wins Third Race in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Stockton 99 Speedway

David Mayhew celebrating his NASCAR K&N Pro Series victory at Stockton 150

David Mayhew had a rough start to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season, but he turned it around at Stockton 99 Speedway.

Mayhew won the Stockton 150, the third race of the K&N Pro Series West season. It was quite a rebound after he had to withdraw from the West Series opener in Phoenix, in February, because of a mechanical failure.

David Mayhews signing autographs before the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race

Since the Phoenix race, Mayhew has posted a runner-up finish at Irwindale Speedway and a victory at Stockton, the fifth of his K&N Pro Series career.

It was also quite a feat for a driver who scaled back to a part-time schedule on the K&N Pro Series West in 2013.

“We’ve been racing constantly, just bouncing around with different series here and there,” Mayhew said. “It’s different going. We got an all new team again this year, starting fresh with different guys and trying to put the whole season together.”

Greg Pursley #26 and David Mayhew competing for first place in the Stockton 150

Mayhew won the pole for the race at Stockton 99 Speedway. He led the first nine laps of the race before yielding to Greg Pursley. Pursley stayed out front for 43 laps before Mayhew regained the lead on lap 53. Mayhew led the rest of the way.

Mayhew said after the race he plans on chasing down Pursley in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings too.

David Mayhew and team in the victory lane at Stockton 99 Speedway

“Right off the bat we broke a fuel pump in Phoenix on lap one and put a damper on our season,” Mayhew said. “Bounced back at Irwindale with a second, to come with a win, we need to gain more races like this. We need to gain some points on Greg and a couple of those other guys. It’s going to be tough all year long. We’re going for the championship. That’s our plan.”

Pursley held on for second place, his best finish at Stockton 99 Speedway in four K&N Pro Series West races.

“It was a great race tonight, pretty clean here for Stockton,” Pursley said. “Lapped cars did a good job staying on the bottom and holding their line. They let us put on a good race.”

Pursley leads the K&N Pro Series West standings by nine points over Brandon McReynolds. It was Pursley’s third top-five finish in a row.

Mayhew is in fifth place in the K&N Pro Series West standings, 16 points behind Pursley.

Giles Thornton was third at Stockton, followed by McReynolds in fourth and Thomas Martin in fifth.

“I had a car to go win it or ride it out and fight for third,” Thornton said. “I was watching (Mayhew and Pursley). They were either go and wreck each other or we were going to finish third. I was right on their bumper waiting for them to wreck.”

The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series race is the Casey’s General Store 150 at Iowa Speedway on May 17. It will feature drivers and teams from the K&N Pro Series West and East.