Brad Keselowski Racing development driver Austin Theriault finished fourth in the 29th annual World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., on Wednesday, July 4. The finish marked a career-best in a Super Late Model for Theriault, who finished third in the first 150-lap segment and second in the second 100-lap segment en route to the Top-5 finish.

“Coming home in the Top-5 was a great rebound from the last time we were here,” said Theriault, who made his BKR debut in the 2011 World Crown 300 last November. “We got turned on Lap 18 last time. We finally finished a World Crown 300, and finally finished a race here.

“I’m really happy about our night.”

Theriault qualified 18 in the BKR No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge. He had moved into the Top-10 by the halfway mark of the first 150-lap segment and was comfortably inside the Top-5 by Lap 100.

The 18-year-old from Fort Kent, Maine, now has four Top-10 finishes in six Super Late Model starts for BKR this season – including two Top-5 finishes in the last four. He said there were two factors to finding success on the ultra-fast high-banks of the half-mile Gresham Motorsports Park oval.

“You’ve just got to stick your (corner) entry, to be honest,” said Theriault, who now turns his focus to the 39th annual TD Bank Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in two weeks. “I’ve never been so tired (after a race). We don’t have hot weather like this in Maine. It’s something different for me.”

The fourth-place finish in the World Crown 300 capped an exciting day for Theriault. Earlier in the evening, he was named as one of three finalists for Go Green Racing’s “2012 Maine Young Guns” competition. The winner will earn the right to participate in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 22.

Theriault finished second in an ACT Late Model Tour race at New Hampshire last August.

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