Brett Moffitt earns K&N East win at Watkins Glen with last-lap pass

Moffitt, driving an entry for his Camping World Truck Series owner Shigeaki Hattori, received left-front damage early in the race and had to pit under green when his water temperature spiked just past the halfway mark.

"It was certainly eventful. We spun early, got our left-front fender ripped off early. It was really unfortunate because our Camry was really good. I was kinda down after that and then once we got back up to the lead we got grass on the front grille and had to pit under green," Moffitt said. "Then, I really thought our day was over but everything just worked back out.

"Honestly, this was in preparation for Canada in the Truck series (the first race of the playoffs in that series). I really think got to run in the rain (in practice) because you don't know what the conditions will be in Canada."

Moffitt said he his job was made easier on the final lap when Rodgers slipped going into Turn 1.

"It certainly would have been way more difficult (if Rodgers hadn't slipped)," Moffitt said. "I saw him coming into the last two turns, he got a loose into both of them and that really allowed me to close the door in a hurry."
Still, he managed to power through the field in the final eight laps and caught leader Will Rodgers with one of 41 laps remaining.

Entering Turn 1 of the final lap, Moffitt got inside Rodgers and claimed the lead and held on for the win in the Great Outdoors RV Superstore 100 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

The win is Moffitt’s first in the K&N Series since 2012 and he ended Rodgers’ streak of four consecutive road course victories in K&N competition.

Rodgers said NASCAR’s decision to bring all the cars down before the start of the race and change from rain tires to regular tires evened the playing field.

“That was a tough race for sure,” Rodgers said. “All in all it was a great race. We won two of them this year and almost made it five-in-a row.”

Scott Heckert finished third, Spencer Davis was fourth and Sam Mayer completed the top-five.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Darrell Wallace Jr. and Erik Jones finished sixth and 19th, respectively.

K&N East series leader Tyler Ankrum ended up seventh.