Kwasniewski becomes youngest driver to win NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship

Dylan Kwasniewski is the youngest driver to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship. He was the runner-up at the season finale at Phoenix International Raceway and finished six points ahead of Greg Pursley, his teammate at Gene Price Motorsports.
Pursley was in search of his second West Series championship in a row.
Michael Self won the race at Phoenix, his third of the season.
Go to the K&N website for more on the race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Photo: Dylan Kwasniewski won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship, the first of his career. (Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR)

Pursley pads West Series lead in Portland

Greg Pursley won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Portland International Raceway and extended his lead in the West Series standings.
Pursley won his fourth race of the season. The reigning West Series champion has a 15-point lead over his Gene Price Motorsports teammate Dylan Kwasniewski.
Michael Self was second, his fifth top 10 in the past six races. Three-time West Series champion Eric Holmes was third.
Go to the K&N website for more on the race from Portland International Raceway.

Photo: Greg Pursley won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Portland International Raceway. (Credit: Craig Mitchell Dyer/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Self wins first West Series race at Brainerd

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West made its first trip to Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota.
Michael Self won the first race of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West career.
Self, who had made 33 career West Series starts without a win, chased down Dylan Kwasniewski in the final laps on the road course to win the race.
Kwasniewski led a race-high 39 laps, but had gear box problems down the stretch. He was able to nurse his car across the finish line in second place.
Greg Pursley, the reigning West Series champion, was third.
Go to the K&N website for more on the race from Brainerd.

Photo: Michael Self celebrates winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Brainerd International Raceway, the first of his career.Credit: Adam Bettcher/NASCAR

Michael Self looks to get ahead in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West

Michael Self is second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. He is four points behind leader Luis Martinez Jr. with four races remaining.
But Self is more focused on winning his first West Series race than he is in winning the rookie of the year award.
"It’s still anyone’s battle," Self said about the rookie race. "We have to go through these next four races and be consistent and be smart and not let anything push us out of the way. Hopefully we can gain a couple more spots in the points standings, which I’d really like, and if we can win the rookie of the year deal that would be awesome too."
When Self isn't racing in the West Series, he is taking classes at the University of Utah. The 19-year-old  from Park City, Utah, took some business classes over the winter term. He said he wants to change his focus this winter and take some psychology classes instead.
Self has had some good races, but not necessarily the best results. He understands it's part of the growing pains of being a rookie in the West Series.
"It’s just kind of been that way throughout the season," Self said. "Every race I feel like we’ve been awesome at. We’ve run good at, maybe I made a mistake. It’s not always been the crew guys. There’s no way for me to put the blame on anyone. It’s just paying my dues and learning those rookie things."
Go to NASCAR Home Tracks for more on Self and his rookie season in the West Series.

Photo: The No. 88 car for Michael Self goes through inspection at Colorado National Speedway before NASCAR K&N Pro Series West practice at the track.