Kelly Moore Scores Record 27th Busch East Series Victory At NHIS; Title Contenders Hit Trouble But Olsen Expands Lead Over Caisse To 57 Points With Two Races To Go
LOUDON, N.H. - Kelly Moore, the all-time leader in NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series victories who was racing for only the second time in 2006, navigated flawlessly through a caution-filled New Hampshire 125 at New Hampshire International Speedway on Saturday afternoon to score his 27th career triumph in the series and his fifth at NHIS. Brian Hoar, Bryon Chew, west coast visitor Andrew Myers, and Tracy Gordon completed the top five in the race shortened to 104 laps by time constraints. Ryan Seaman, Peyton Sellers, Ruben Pardo, point leader Mike Olsen, and Jerry Marquis finished sixth through tenth.
Moore, who was the 1995 champion and leads the series in virtually every career statistical category despite limiting his schedule for the past two seasons, started 23rd and took the lead for the only time on lap 89 from Hoar. He pulled away on the green-white-checker finish to record a 0.941 second margin of victory. He was the last of eight leaders who swapped the lead 11 times. Sean Caisse showed early strength before giving way to Jeff Anton when most of the leaders pitted at lap 21. Anton paced the next 22 laps, the first laps led in his career, before stopping for service. During that time, point leader Mike Olsen spun and went to the back of the field.
A renewed battle between Caisse and eight-time NHIS winner Brad Leighton ended at lap 69 when they tangled in turn 3 with Matt Kobyluck, who was subsequently parked for the day. Moore took the lap 78 green flag in fourth place behind Brian Hoar, Dave Dion, and Peyton Sellers. While he was briefly passed by Bryon Chew, Moore took less than a dozen laps to move to the lead and never let go.
Andrew Myers advanced all the way from 41st to fourth, winning the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award. Tracy Gordon improved seven places from the last race at Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl to capture the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award. No Busch Pole Award was made after time trials were rained out on Thursday and the field was set by car owner points. Moore averaged 69.211 miles per hour as eleven caution periods slowed the action. Of the 46 car starting field, 37 were running at the finish with 34 on the lead lap. Ruben Pardo expanded his lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year race to three points over Dion Ciccarelli.
Busch East Series championship contenders, Olsen and Caisse, both appeared to be on the brink of disaster after their separate on-track incidents, but Olsen rallied to finish ninth, leading one lap, and Caisse was 14th while leading the most laps. As a result, Olsen extended his lead to 57 points with two races remaining. The next round is next Friday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH EAST SERIES
Sylvania 125
New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H., Saturday, September 16, 2006
Finish
Start
Car #
Driver
Hometown
Car
Laps
Money Won
Reason Out
1
23
47
Kelly Moore
Scarborough, Maine
NAPA Auto Parts Chevroelt
104
$14,500
2
4
45
Brian Hoar
Williston, Vt.
Goss Dodge Dodge
104
$9,900
3
3
99
Bryon Chew
Mattituck, N.Y.
Buzz Chew Chevrolet Chevrolet
104
$8,300
4
41
4
Andrew Myers
Newport Beach, Calif.
Toyota of Escondido Chevrolet
104
$7,800
5
25
33
Tracy Gordon
Strong, Maine
The Woodworks/Archer Corp. Ford
104
$6,600
6
29
06
Ryan Seaman
Toms River, N.J.
ERS Fleet Repair Chevrolet
104
$5,300
7
37
31
Peyton Sellers
Danville, Va.
Whelen Engineering Chevrolet
104
$4,900
8
10
12
Ruben Pardo*
Mexico City, Mexico
Family Dollar/Movida Dodge
104
$4,900
9
1
61
Mike Olsen
N. Haverhill, N.H.
Little Trees Chevrolet
104
$4,400
10
40
52
Jerry Marquis
Broad Brook, Conn.
Furnace & Duct Chevrolet
104
$3,500
11
21
29
Dave Dion
Hudson, N.H.
Berlin City Ford Ford
104
$3,800
12
30
41
Rocky Moran, Jr.
Irevine, Calif.
New England Mechanical Overlay Chevrolet
104
$3,100
13
28
03
Rogelio Lopez
Mexico City, Mexico
Telmex/Lucas Oil Chevrolet
104
$3,000
14
2
44
Sean Caisse
Pelham, N.H.
Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet
104
$3,400
15
42
7
James Civali
Meriden, Conn.
Liberty Limousine Chevrolet
104
$2,875
16
7
3
Joey McCarthy
Randolph, N.J.
STI Motorsports Chevrolet
104
$3,350
17
44
22
John Freeman
Charlotte, N.C.
Family Dollar/Supercuts Dodge
104
$3,275
18
34
1
Alex Hoag
Bath, N.Y.
Mavericks Fortune Racing Chevrolet
104
$2,725
19
8
01
Charles Lewandoski
Stafford Springs, Conn.
Lewandoski Construction Chevrolet
104
$3,200
20
11
16
Kip Stockwell
Braintree, Vt.
Stockwell Racing Chevrolet
104
$3,150
21
9
30
Jeff Anton
Russell, Mass.
Engineered Floors Chevrolet
104
$3,075
22
13
15
John Salemi
Nashua, N.H.
Waste Management Chevrolet
104
$3,050
23
27
48
Eddie MacDonald
Rowley, Mass.
New England Mechanical Overlay Chevrolet
104
$3,030
24
12
84
Dion Ciccarelli*
Severn, Md.
Jamerson Motorsports/Star Sales Ford
104
$3,000
25
17
10
Pierre Borque*
Ottawa, Ont.
driving.ca/canada.com Chevrolet
104
$3,000
26
15
5
Barney McRae
Colchester, Vt.
Motion Racing Chevrolet
104
$2,500
27
19
8
Rich Gould*
N. Brunswick, N.J.
Nassau Painting Chevrolet
104
$3,000
28
16
14
Joe Masessa
Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Skin Cancer Foundation Chevrolet
104
$3,000
29
33
75
Tim Cowen
Ashland, Oh.
Cowen Logistics Ford
104
$2,500
30
38
11
Rob Humphreys
Elbridge, N.Y.
Humphreys Racing Chevrolet
104
$2,500
31
36
83
Ray Ciccarelli
Ellicott City, Md.
Chron's & Colitis Foundation Ford
104
$2,500
32
45
76
Jerick Johnson
Faribault, Minn.
American Legion Chevrolet
104
$2,500
33
26
97
Brent Cross*
Cortland, N.Y.
Cummings Auto Machine Chevrolet
104
$3,000
34
24
67
Jamie Aube
Bow, N.H.
Red Line Synthetic Oil Chevrolet
103
$3,000
35
32
88
Mike Gallo
Sanford, Maine
JBR Racing Ford
102
$2,500
36
14
26
Scott Bouley
Thomaston, Conn.
Towne & Aurell Excavating Chevrolet
98
$3,000
37
6
96
Mike Johnson
Salisbury, Mass.
Johnson Lumber Ford
97
$3,000
38
43
00
Danny Sammons
Trenton, N.J.
RSR Racing Chevrolet
93
$2,500
Engine
39
28
21
Carlos Pardo
Mexico City, Mexico
Telcel Chevrolet
82
$2,500
Accident
40
5
40
Matt Kobyluck
Uncasville, Conn.
Mohegan Sun Chevrolet
69
$3,000
Parked
41
22
35
Brad Leighton
Center Harbor, N.H.
Irving Oil Ford
68
$2,500
Accident
42
35
32
Dale Quarterley
Westfield, Mass.
racingtonortheast.com Chevrolet
63
$2,500
Handling
43
46
08
Jason White
Colonial Heights, Va.
Gunbroker.com Dodge
38
$2,500
Accident
44
39
92
Doug Krpata
Bethpage, N.Y.
Island Trees Automotive Chevrolet
38
$2,500
Accident
45
20
25
Jeremy Clark*
Cortland, N.Y.
Drake Oil Chevrolet
16
$3,000
Engine
46
18
24
Patrick Dupree*
Onchiota, N.Y.
Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet
16
$3,000
Accident
TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 34 minutes, 40 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 69.211 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.941 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 11 for 73 laps
LEAD CHANGES 11 among 8 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Caisse 1-6, Olsen 7, Caisse 8-20, Anton 21-42, Lewandoski 43-45, Leighton 46-54, Caisse 55-60, Leighton 61-62, Caisse 63, Dion 64, Hoar 65-88, Moore 89-104
BUSCH POLE AWARD: None awarded, qualifying rained out
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Andrew Myers, Toyota of Escondido Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Tracy Gordon, The Woodworks/Archer Corp. Ford
UNOFFICIAL BUSCH EASE SERIES POINT STANDINGS (wins)
1. Mike Olsen (2) 1498
2. Sean Caisse (3) 1442
3. Brian Hoar 1345
4. Bryon Chew (1) 1344
5. Matt Kobyluck (2) 1211
6. Joey McCarthy 1193
7. Mike Johnson 1168
8. Charles Lewandoski 1152
9. Ruben Pardo 1144
10. Jeff Anton 1081
11. Kip Stockwell 1067
12. Dion Ciccarelli 1018
13. John Salemi 979
14. John Freeman 976
15. Scott Bouley 924
(tie) Pierre Bourque 924
