GREENVILLE, S.C. - Brian Ickler is hoping to use the NASCAR Camping World Series East as a launching pad. Performances like Saturday night at historic Greenville Pickens Speedway certainly don't hurt his cause, as Ickler led nearly every lap from start to finish in winning the season opening NASCAR Home Tracks 150 presented by Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet.
Ickler recorded his fourth career NASCAR Camping World Series East victory and seventh NASCAR Camping World Series victory overall.
Veteran Jody Lavender scored a career-best second-place finish, while Eddie MacDonald finished third. Josh Richards and Brett Moffitt, both making their first career NASCAR starts, rounded out the top five.
Ickler qualified second behind Coors Light Pole Award winner Moffitt. A multi-car accident in Turn 1 on the start of the race caused a lengthy red flag, and on the race's restart, Ickler got the jump on Moffitt and quickly began to pull away from the field.MacDonald, restarting on the outside of the front row, briefly took the lead by a nose on three restarts. Each time however, Ickler erased the lead and pulled out to a commanding lead.
Patrick Long, Steve Park, Matt Kobyluck, Alan Tardiff, and Matt DiBenedetto completed the top 10.
The NASCAR Camping World Series East will return to action at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C., on Saturday, April 25.
NASCAR Camping World Series East-NASCAR Home Tracks 150 pres. by Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet
Unofficial Results Saturday At Greenville Pickens Speedway Greenville, S.C. Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 54.778 mph, $8,500.
2. (13) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 150, $4,900.
3. (3) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $3,700.
4. (17) Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va., Chevrolet, 150, $4,500.
5. (1) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 150, $4,325.
6. (9) Patrick Long, Oak Park, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $1,700.
7. (4) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600.
8. (8) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,550.
9. (12) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $1,300.
10. (6) Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif., Toyota, 150, $1,775.
11. (20) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $1,188.
12. (7) Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, Ind., Chevrolet, 149, $1,675.
13. (22) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149, $1,650.
14. (5) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 149, $1,625.
15. (10) Ryan Duff, Hazard, Ky., Chevrolet, 148, $1,600.
16. (24) Todd Peck, Glenville, Pa., Chevrolet, 148, $1,100.
17. (18) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 146, $1,100.
18. (23) Rich Gould, North Brunswick, N.J., Chevrolet, 142, $1,100.
19. (19) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 137, vibration, $1,600.
20. (28) Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa., Dodge, 132, accident, $1,100.
21. (26) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 131, accident, $1,600.
22. (16) Kristin Bumbera, Sealy, Texas, Dodge, 110, accident, $1,075.
23. (27) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 108, oil line, $1,050.
24. (14) Jarit Johnson, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet, 107, overheating, $1,025.
25. (15) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 55, accident, $1,500.
26. (21) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 43, rear end, $1,000.
27. (25) Jason Cochran, Daytona Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 34, brakes, $1,000.
28. (29) Dominick Casola, Holmdel, N.J., Ford, 0, accident, $1,000.
29. (11) Tom Hessert, III, Cherry Hill, N.J., Ford, 0, accident, $1,000.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 22 minutes 9 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.951 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Moffitt * (86.994 mph, 20.691 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 38 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Ickler 1-48; E. MacDonald 49; B. Ickler 50-111; E. MacDonald 112; B. Ickler 113-118; E. MacDonald 119-120; B. Ickler 121-150.
Standings: 1. B. Ickler, 190; 2. J. Lavender, 170; 3. E. MacDonald, 170; 4. J. Richards, 160; 5. B. Moffitt, 155; 6. P. Long, 150; 7. S. Park, 146; 8. M. Kobyluck, 142; 9. A. Tardiff, 138; 10. M. DiBenedetto, 134.
