Truex makes a statement ... Ryan Truex (No. 00 NAPA Toyota) continued his impressive rookie campaign with his second win of the season in the Pepsi Full Fender 100. The Mayetta, N.J., driver took the led twice for 23 laps, including the last five after passing Steve Park (No. 35 Waste Management Recycle America Chevrolet). Truex's previous win came June 6 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. It also marked the fourth straight top 10 finish for the Michael Waltrip Racing development driver.
Points battle ... Truex's nine-point lead over Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 Grimm Construction Chevrolet) is the slimmest margin between first and second since following the first race of the 2007 season. The last time the lead was under 10 points was following the sixth race of the 2005 season, at Adirondack International Speedway, when Mike Stefanik held a seven-point edge over Matt Kobyluck. Eventual champion Andy Santerre was third at the time, 30 points back of Stefanik.
More awards for Truex ... The victory at Thompson gave Truex his second Camping World Happy Camper Award, which is handed out to the race winner. He also earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award for the third time. Truex holds a four-point lead over Brett Moffitt (No. 44 brettmoffitt.com Chevrolet), who has also won the award in three races, in the season-long Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
Out front ... Steve Park won his first Coors Light Pole Award in the NASCAR Camping World Series East with a lap of 20.324 seconds (110.707 mph). The veteran driver has previously won the award in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Park also led 76 of the 100 laps to claim the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award for the first time this season.
Moffitt improves ... Moffitt bounced back from an accident that left him 37th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to bring home a 10th-place finish at Thompson and earn the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award.
Moving through the field ... After qualifying 17th, Jesus Hernandez (No. 12 Chivas/Telmex/Z-Line Designs Dodge) moved up 10 spots to finish seventh and earn the Coca-Cola Move of the Race Award.
Career day ... Ryan Duff (Pine Branch Coal/KPSales.com Chevrolet) tied his best career finish with his eighth-place run.
First timers ... Thompson marked the NASCAR Camping World Series East debuts for Sean Corr (The Trans Group Chevrolet), Derek Ramstrom (No. 53 Bollegraaf Chevrolet), and Corey LaJoie (No. 19 Bodine Bobsled Project Ford). Corr finished 16th. Ramstrom ended up 17th after being involved in an accident, and LaJoie's engine issues left him 19th. It was also the first oval race for road-course ace Eric Curran (No. 31 Whelen Engineering/Coca-Cola Chevrolet). Curran, who had made three NASCAR Camping World Series starts previously, was also involved in an accident and finished 21st.
DiBenedetto on a roll ... After finishing 10th in his debut, Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Matt DiBenedetto (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota) had his fourth straight top five with a third-place run at Thompson.
