Brett Moffitt Captures South Boston 150
Brett Moffitt took the lead from Ryan Truex on the 84th lap and held off fellow rookie Ryan Gifford of Lexington, N.C. over the final 15 laps to win the NASCAR Camping World East Series 150 here Saturday night at South Boston Speedway.
Moffitt, who entered the race in second place in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, earned $7,825 for the win. He became the fourth different winner in as many races this season and the third different winner at South Boston Speedway.
Gifford, a development driver for Richard Childress Racing, finished second, 3.691 seconds behind Moffitt.
Truex, driving a Toyota, led twice for a total of 69 laps and finished third after Gifford sped past him with 15 laps to go. Jody Lavender of Mooresville, N.C., the series points leader, finished fourth and retained the series points lead. Max Gresham of Griffin, Ga., making his NCWS debut, finished fifth.
The race was a competitive one with three lead changes between Truex and Moffitt. Moffitt led a total of 81 laps while Truex led 69 laps.
Moffitt averaged 63.830 mph in the race that was slowed by five caution periods that consumed 26 laps.
With Saturday’s win, Moffitt also secured a starting spot in the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Moffitt and Truex traded the lead three times. Moffitt pulled away on the final lap 103 restart and won by 3.691 seconds. Truex, the 19-year-old younger brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. and a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, won his first career Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day.
Gifford, 19, is driving a limited schedule for Richard Childress Racing. He started 10th and charged up through the field. He got to second when Truex got loose coming off Turn 4, but was unable to close the gap on Moffitt.
Point leader Jody Lavender finished fourth and maintained a 26-point lead on Moffitt. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Max Gresham, making his first series start, finished fifth.
Alan Tardiff, Sean Caisse, Ty Dillon, Eddie MacDonald and Dustin Delaney rounded out the top 10.
Lavender emerged from the race with a 26-point lead over Moffitt.
Can the team at the least photoshop Gifford’s picture so he looks older than 12? I know he’s 19 but maybe they are using an older picture when he WAS 12??