Chris Eggleston Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Opener in Tucson, Arizona

Mar 21, 2017

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West's Chris Eggleston trophy at Tucson Speedway

Chris Eggleston celebrates after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West opener at Tucson Speedway

As far as comebacks go, Chris Eggleston is off to a great start.

The 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion said he was negotiating with Bill McAnally Racing until February to bring him back for another season. Eggleston rewarded McAnally by winning the K&N Pro Series West season opener at Tucson Speedway.

“This win’s big. It means a lot to me,” Eggleston said. “I really didn’t have a ride going into January almost end of February. Bill and [my sponsors], they brought me back for another year. Couldn’t be more happy or proud. This win is definitely for them for bringing me back.”

Eggleston led for 80 laps in the NAPA Auto Parts Tucson 150. He passed Todd Gilliland, the reigning K&N Pro Series West champion, on lap 92 and was out front for the last 58 laps of the race.

“I had to use up my stuff a little sooner than I wanted to, to get around Todd and it worked out all right,” Eggleston said. “Those last few cautions also had me nervous too. But man this was digging at the top. Finally got a Tucson win. This is awesome. Best way to start the season.”

There were six cautions for 28 laps and two cautions over the last 30 laps of the race. Eggleston was able to maintain his lead through both restarts.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West's Chris Eggleston Wins at Tucson Speedway

Chris Eggleston takes a victory lap after winning the K&N Pro Series West race at Tucson Speedway

“It’s a little shot in the arm obviously,” Eggleston said. “Going into the offseason you want to get a win or two going into the season. To get the first one out of the way for the first race of the season is huge for us, Hopefully we can just start clicking them off. Make sure we get good solid points days and keep going.”

Eggleston and Gilliland battled for the lead in the first half of the race. They swapped the lead four times.

“I don’t think we had a car to win that first segment,” Eggleston said. “We made just the right adjustments at that halfway break on that pit stop. We had a really good car that second half.”

Gilliland won the pole and led the first four laps of the race. Eggleston passed Gilliland for the lead. Gilliland took it back on lap 25. They swapped the lead again and Gilliland was out front from laps 32 to 91. Gilliland led for 70 laps.

“It was definitely a good race weekend for us,” Gilliland said. “I can’t complain with a second place finish after leading more than half the laps. This stuff happens. It’s the defeat, but it’s not really the defeat when you finish second. Strong run by the Bill McAnally Racing with the one-two finish. I think our packages are very good. It’s crazy how different they are.”

NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West, Chris Eggleston, Tucson Speedway

Chris Eggleston led 80 laps in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Tucson Speedway

Rookie Garrett Archer was third after qualifying and starting the race in the 16th spot. In only his second K&N Pro Series West start, Archer jumped from sixth place to second on the final restart. But Gilliland passed Archer to finish second before the checkered flag dropped.

“We got to second at one point, but I think we used up just a little too much to get to the next guy,” Archer said. “Hell of a race from where we started, really good momentum heading forward.”

Zane Smith was fourth, followed by Will Rodgers in fifth.

The next K&N Pro Series West race is at Kern County Raceway Park.

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