Little Crushes Rhodes’ Shot at Winning 5 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Races in a Row

Sitting in third place worked to Jesse Little’s advantage as he was able to avoid a wreck and bring home a win in the Granite State 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Jesse Little was ecstatic to have his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win and was able to hand his mother the trophy as a birthday present

With one lap to go Jessie Little, who hails from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, drove around a crash involving the race leaders and on to his first career victory in the Granite State 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. Little was ecstatic to have his first win and of all days he did it on his mom’s birthday. Little said “It’s an amazing birthday present that I can hand her that trophy.”

Up until that final lap Nick Drake was leading the race in his number 15 Napa Auto Parts Toyota. A bold attempt by Brandon Jones to take the lead resulted in both racers crashing. Nick Drake was quoted as saying “We thought we had the win, but we were taken out coming for the checkered flag.” Drake went on to say “The 33 just drove right into us, there’s nothing else we could have done.” Nick Drake would finish 24th in the Granite State 100, and Brandon Jones in the number 33 Wolfpack Energy Services Chevrolet would cross the line 21st.

It looked as if Nick Drake would get the win in his number 15 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota but was taken out by Brandon Jones’ failed attempt to take the lead

Eddie MacDonald used his second place finish in the Grimm Construction / Exit Realty Chevrolet SS as practice for his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut that same weekend

Ben Rhodes headed into the Granite State 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with hopes of matching the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East record of five straight wins. Rhodes’ chances looked pretty good as he had the fastest qualifying time and started from the pole position. He spent most of the race battling for position among the top five, but an infraction on a restart late in the race resulted in a penalty and an uncharacteristic finish near the back of the pack. After the race Rhodes said “The race at New Hampshire was disappointing, but that will be our mulligan for 2014. We’ll move on and be ready to contend for the victory again next weekend.”

Eddie MacDonald drove the number 71 car to a second place finish just .313 seconds behind winner Jessie Little. Cale Conley followed in third place with Jay Beasly and Chad Finley rounding out the top five finishers.

Ben Rhodes spent most of the race battling with the top five drivers but a penalty caused an uncharacteristic 22nd place finish in the Granite State 100

17-year-old North Carolina native Jessie Little got on top of his car to celebrate his first time on victory lane in the Granite State 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Ben Rhodes is still leading the series points championship with Gray Gualding 62 points behind in second place and Cameron Hayley right on Gualding’s heels with only three points separating the two racers. Jessie Little and Brandon Jones are 4th and 5th respectively in the points chase.

The Jegs 150 at Columbus Ohio Motor Speedway is the next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race.