Catchfence

EVENT: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East; “Kevin Whitaker 150″

DATE: Saturday, March 27, 2010

TRACK: Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway

RESULTS: No. 84 Red Bull Toyota (start 1, finish 4)

+ WHITT JUST MISSES WINNING DEBUT RACE

The pole, seven laps led and a fourth-place finish. Not bad for 18-
year-old Cole Whitt, who made his stock car debut Saturday night
in the K&N Pro Series East opener at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

“After I got settled in on the track, I fell into a good groove and
focused on saving our equipment for when it mattered – the final
laps,” said Whitt. “We hung in the top five and got out front on the
last lap, but got a little bit out of shape when we made contact
with (Ryan) Truex. It was a good night for us though and a great
finish for our first time out.”

On the final restart, Whitt started alongside Darrell Wallace Jr. But
after his No. 84 Red Bull Toyota led by a nose at the green flag,
Wallace was able to edge ahead and get clear coming off turn two.
Wallace went on to victory, but Whitt lost two positions on the
white flag lap after contact with Ryan Truex’s heavily damaged car.

Final result in Whitt’s debut stock car race: fourth.

After a 162-lap test March 16 at half-mile Greenville-Pickens,
Saturday’s 156-lap, overtime race was the longest of Whitt’s
career. But it hardly showed, as Whitt stayed clean in a caution-
filled race (13 for 61 laps) and was one of three leaders (three
times for seven laps).

Earlier Saturday, the Red Bull Racing Team development driver
won the pole with a fast lap of 86.726 mph.

+ UP NEXT

Whitt’s first preseason test came at South Boston (Va.) Speedway,
and that’s where the K&N East series heads next for Saturday
night’s South Boston 150.

- Red Bull Racing Press Release