Pena Drove the Toyota Racing Development Camry to NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win

Sergio Pena and Cameron Hayley battled for first place in the last few laps of the JEGS 150 at Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio

Pena won the fourth NASCAR K&N Pro Series race of his career and his first since 2011. He denied Cameron Hayley his first K&N Pro Series East win, taking the lead on the final restart on lap 141 and holding on over the last nine laps of the race.

“This is such a great feeling,” Pena said after the race. “I almost forgot what it felt like. Words can’t even describe what this is like. I have to thank Rev Racing, NASCAR and the Drive for Diversity program for having me back this year.”

Sergio Pena celebrates his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race win at Columbus Motor Speedway with a triumphant cloud of white smoke

Pena took the lead from Hayley on lap 120 and led the final 31 laps of the race. Hayley challenged for the lead over the final laps, but was never able to pass Pena.

“It was tough racing tonight,” Pena said. “Me and Ben Rhodes and Cameron Hayley, especially the three of us, were going at it, knocking each other out of the way, giving it back and forth. It’s just great short track racing. Cameron got by me there at the end, but we were able to get the inside back. We were good on the short runs all night.”

Sergio Pena stands on victory lane in front of his Toyota Racing Development Camry after his win in the JEGS 150

Hayley posted his third runner-up finish of the season. He has finished second in two of the past three K&N Pro Series East races.

Scott Heckert qualified fastest in his #34 Project Life Chevrolet and earned himself the 21 Means 21 presented by Coors Brewing Company Pole Award

Ben Rhodes, who won four K&N Pro Series East races in a row and five overall this season, came in third place.

“This place breeds rough racing,” said Rhodes about racing at Columbus Motor Speedway. “I had to kind of use the bumper to get up through here, but there’s really no way you can pass because there’s only one line. I was using my bumper; people were using their bumper on me. It’s part of the racing here.”

Jesse Little, who won the previous K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway, was fourth. Ryan Gifford was fifth.

Rhodes has a 62-point lead over Hayley in the K&N Pro Series East standings after 11 races. Gray Gaulding, who 15th at Columbus Motor Speedway, is in third place in the K&N Pro Series East standings, 74 points behind Rhodes.

The next race in the K&N Pro Series East is at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1.