Eggleston Wins Second Consecutive K&N Pro Series West Race at Colorado Speedway
- Jun 26, 2017
Eggleston and Bill McAnally Racing teammate Todd Gilliland battled for the lead throughout the race. Gilliland, the leader in the K&N Pro Series West standings, led for a race-high 85 laps. Eggleston led for 64 laps, but was able to move out front for the final 14. “Todd had really good short-run speed,” Eggleston said. “We did everything we could to keep pace with him. It seemed like he was able to stretch it easier and that we were using our stuff just trying to keep up with him.” Eggleston led the first 11 laps of the race. He and Gilliland swapped the lead until lap 100. Eggleston was out front for 36 laps until rookie Derek Kraus took over for one lap. It was back to Gilliland and Eggleston for the remainder of the NAPA/Toyota 150. Eggleston won the K&N Pro Series West season opener at Tucson Speedway in March. He won the race at Orange Show Speedway in California on May 20. “We were able to get the balance back in our race car on the long runs,” Eggleston said. “At about the halfway mark, it seemed like Todd was getting a little snug and we were able to catch him. We started searching around and found a little bit of speed on the top side. Once we started rolling the top, we were able to get a fender on him on the outside and get by.” Knaus held on for second place in the K&N Pro Series West race at Colorado. Gilliland was third, giving Bill McAnally Racing a podium sweep.
Knaus and Gilliland made contact in the final laps. Gilliland, who won four races in a row, leads the K&N Pro Series West standings by seven points over Eggleston after seven races. “It does sting a little bit to be leading like that and just use the tires up a little bit too much,” Gilliland said. “Chris Eggleston, he probably has thousands of laps here, he’s always really stout when we come here. We just gotta keep looking ahead, I’m really excited about the tracks we’re coming up to, Sonoma, on the west. Just keep looking forward.” Gracin Raz finished fourth in the race at Colorado, followed by rookie Kody Vanderwal in fifth. The next K&N Pro Series West race is at Sonoma Raceway in California. | |||
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