Luis Martinez Jr. won his first-ever NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, the Bi-Mart Salute To The Troops 125, at Portland International Raceway.
The Californian was able to regain the lead as David Mayhew spun off course in Turn 12 on the final lap around the 1.967-mile road course.
Martinez, the 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, was making his 23rd career series start. In qualifying earlier in the day, he had captured his second career Coors Light Pole Award.
Martinez was in second place by lap 60 and charged past race leader, Canadian Andrew Ranger for the lead going into the chicane a lap later. Ranger’s day ended soon after that when his engine let go in Turn 6. Michael Self, who had led seven laps earlier, spun in the oil – but was able to continue.
Following the clean-up, Martinez led the field to a green-white-checked finish.
Brandon Davis, who was second on the restart, slid off course in Turn 6. He looped his car around and managed to return to the action. Mayhew charged after Martinez and moved into the lead through the back section of the course. He could not maintain control, however, as he went for a wild slide off the track in Turn 12.
Martinez won by .352 seconds over Eric Holmes, who had also charged back up through the pack. Derek Thorn, making his first start as a teammate to Martinez with the Bob Bruncati-owned team, followed in third.
Moses Smith followed in fourth, while Dave Smith picked up his first series top-five finish in his just his third start.
Series point leader Greg Pursley, who led a race high 37 laps, was out front on Lap 47 when his engine let go and ended up 26th.
Pursley’s commanding lead in the championship standings slipped to 233 points over Moses Smith - 1,550 to 1,317. Martinez is third with 1,244, followed by Holmes with 1,212 and Self with 1,208.
The Californian was able to regain the lead as David Mayhew spun off course in Turn 12 on the final lap around the 1.967-mile road course.
Martinez, the 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, was making his 23rd career series start. In qualifying earlier in the day, he had captured his second career Coors Light Pole Award.
Martinez was in second place by lap 60 and charged past race leader, Canadian Andrew Ranger for the lead going into the chicane a lap later. Ranger’s day ended soon after that when his engine let go in Turn 6. Michael Self, who had led seven laps earlier, spun in the oil – but was able to continue.
Following the clean-up, Martinez led the field to a green-white-checked finish.
Brandon Davis, who was second on the restart, slid off course in Turn 6. He looped his car around and managed to return to the action. Mayhew charged after Martinez and moved into the lead through the back section of the course. He could not maintain control, however, as he went for a wild slide off the track in Turn 12.
Martinez won by .352 seconds over Eric Holmes, who had also charged back up through the pack. Derek Thorn, making his first start as a teammate to Martinez with the Bob Bruncati-owned team, followed in third.
Moses Smith followed in fourth, while Dave Smith picked up his first series top-five finish in his just his third start.
Series point leader Greg Pursley, who led a race high 37 laps, was out front on Lap 47 when his engine let go and ended up 26th.
Pursley’s commanding lead in the championship standings slipped to 233 points over Moses Smith - 1,550 to 1,317. Martinez is third with 1,244, followed by Holmes with 1,212 and Self with 1,208.