Sunday, July 13, 2014

First #KNWEST Win For 16-Year-Old Bickford

ames Bickford celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NAPA Auto Parts/Toyota 150
James Bickford celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NAPA
Auto Parts/Toyota 150 Saturday night at State Line Speedway in Idaho.
(William Mancebo/Getty Images for NASCAR)


James Bickford showed Saturday night he's a fast learner. And a fast driver.


The Napa, California, driver in just his seventh NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, passed former champion Greg Pursley with four laps to go in the NAPA Auto Parts/Toyota 150 at State Line Speedway to go en route to capturing his first career win.

Pursley finished second -- .725-seconds back of Bickford's No. 6 Interstate Plastics/Sunrise Ford on the quarter-mile oval -- and Brandon McReynolds was third. Braeden Havens, who won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award earlier in the day, finished fourth and David Mayhew rounded out the top five.

Bickford, who turned 16 in March, is the cousin of four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. His previous best finish was a fourth-place run at Iowa Speedway in May.

James’ father, Tom, is John Bickford’s brother. Gordon, 42, was reared by stepfather John Bickford from the time he was a Vallejo toddler.

James Bickford drove to his first victory in his seventh career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race Saturday night
James Bickford drove to his first victory in his seventh career NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West race Saturday night. William (Mancebo/Getty Images for NASCAR)
James, who won the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model championship at All American Speedway in his rookie year in 2013, drives for Bob Bruncati Racing in the No. 6 Sunrise Ford. He replaced driver Derek Thorn, who is the reigning K&N West champion.


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