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PRACTICE: Max McLaughlin Quickest at Watkins Glen

www.arcaracing.com August 2, 2019

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Although Friday was Max McLaughlin’s first time on a road course in his entire career, it sure didn’t look like it.

The Hattori Racing Enterprises driver laid down a lap of 1:16.115 around the 2.45-mile road course in preparation for the Great Outdoors RV Superstore 100 at Watkins Glen International, coming on his eighth of 15 total laps.

The No. 1 MoHawk Toyota McLaughlin is driving is the same one that Brett Moffitt won in last season at The Glen. Ryan Truex also qualified on the pole and led 26 laps after crashing out of the event.

“It’s definitely a fast race car,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve never really ran a road race before. This is all new to me, but I’m having a lot of fun doing it. Hattori Racing has been pretty successful here in the last two years, won with Brett Moffitt (last year), so hopefully we can put it together, make all the laps, end up clean and get another one for them today.”

Tanner Gray (1:16.842), Ty Gibbs (1:17.220), Chase Cabre (1:17.328) and championship points leader Sam Mayer (1:17.361) completed the top five quickest lap times. Mayer (27) completed the most laps in the session.

Spencer Davis, Ruben Garcia Jr., Dylan Murry, Derek Kraus and Riley Herbst rounded out the top 10.

Brandon Jones, making his first K&N Pro Series East start since 2017, blew an engine in his first run on track for Bill McAnally Racing, causing a lengthy clean-up.

The K&N East drivers return to the track for group qualifying at 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The Great Outdoors RV Superstore 100 will go green at approximately 4:45 p.m. FansChoice.TV will have live coverage of the event.

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