by Jay | Sep 14, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England, New Hampshire, NHMS
Matt Kobyluck leaves no room for wondering what he and his Mohegan Sun Racing team want for the NASCAR Camping World Series East event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 18th. The 2008 defending series Champion is going with the distinct goal of winning the race.
“We want to win,” said Kobyluck. “We have everything to gain in the points, while the leaders right now have everything to lose. We want to get back in victory lane this year and New Hampshire would be a great place to do that.”
Kobyluck is currently tied with Steve Park for fourth place in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series East point standings. Kobyluck has posted two top-five and six top-10 finishes in nine starts this season. Only two races remain to attempt to end a winless streak that started after his victory in the Toyota All-Star Showdown back in January.
The Mohegan Sun Race team will face some stiff competition, however. Ryan Truex, Eddie MacDonald, and several others will try and make Kobyluck’s goal hard to obtain, but the Uncasville, Conn. native feels they can rise to the challenge.
“We’ve had a pretty decent car there in the last couple of years so we just have to stay out of trouble and be there at the end,” said Kobyluck. “Ryan has been good everywhere he’s gone this year and Eddie has been consistently good at New Hampshire so they will definitely be contenders at this race. A lot of it will come down to qualifying. It’s so important there to start up front, and we’ll have a strong focus on our qualifying effort.”
Tackling New Hampshire Motor Speedway would be one of the biggest accomplishments of Kobyluck’s career. It is one of a select few tracks that the 39-year-old driver has yet to win on.
“We’ve won at a lot of places, but winning at New Hampshire would just be incredible. All my wins have meant a lot to me, but we’ve worked really hard at New Hampshire and we’ve struggled there in the past. I think pulling off a victory would be a memorable moment for both me and the crew.”
The Heluva Good Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway takes the green flag at 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, September 18th. For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or the Mohegan Sun Race team, visit www.mattkobyluck.com.
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | ACT, NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Center Harbor, NH (September 7, 2009): Brad Leighton has a chance to add to an already stellar record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he heads to the track September 18-19 for a double-header weekend that includes competing in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and ACT Invitational races. Leighton will pilot the No. 55 Irving Oil-sponsored car in both events.
Leighton has eight wins in 38 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, and has been looking to add to that total since he last won there in 2003. He’s led over 600 laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and is always a fan-favorite for the win.
“We’ve come close so many times over the last couple of years, so hopefully, this time will be our trip back to victory lane,” said Leighton, who has posted five top-10 finishes since his last win. “We’re aiming to bring home back-to-back wins.”
The Center Harbor, N.H. resident will also compete in the inaugural ACT Invitational on Saturday. Leighton earned an invitation by virtue of his win at the at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup at Lee USA Speedway earlier this year. He was the first driver to earn one of the 36 total invitations to the race.
Late last month, Leighton participated in a test session in preparation for the Late Model event that will carry a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams.
“The test went well, but we discovered we have a lot more work to do,” said Leighton. “You can really drive the ACT car deep into the corners unlike the East Series car, but the East Series cars have a lot more power. The good thing is the two races are a day apart so it’ll lessen any transition issues.”
Leighton is already the winningest driver in the history of New Hampshire Motor Speedway so a win in either division would be a feather in his cap.
“If we win the East Series race, we’ll end a dry spell I’ve been trying to end for some time now, but at the same time I’d really like to win that ACT Invitational. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I’m going to have a lot of fun with it all. I can’t wait – I’ll be like a kid in a candy store.”
Catch Brad Leighton and the Irving Oil Chevrolet in the Heluva Good Fall 125 NASCAR Camping World Series East race on Friday, September 18th at 5 p.m and the ACT Invitational on Saturday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on Brad Leighton or Irving Oil, visit www.bradleighton.com
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
North Haverhill, N.H. (September 7, 2009): When the NASCAR Camping World Series East returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th, a new face will occupy the seat of Fadden Racing’s familiar No. 61. The car, normally piloted on a limited basis by car owner Mike Olsen, will be driven by Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, a talented up-and-coming racer out of Hudson, N.H.
Polewarczyk has built a name for himself as a regular on the ACT Late Model Tour, where he’s currently third in the point standings. Back in June, the 20-year-old driver won the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road after fielding a second car for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart, He’s also made two previous NASCAR Camping World Series East starts with the latest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s September event in 2008, where he finished sixth.
“It’s Cup weekend and it’s one of the Camping World’s biggest races,” said Polewarczyk on his decision to race at NHMS. “It just made sense for us. We would love to race more in that series, but a lot of it comes down to sponsorship and how much money you can bring to the table to be with one of these top teams. I’m really looking forward to the experience of working with Mike (Olsen), Harry (Norcross), and everyone at Fadden Racing.”
The No. 61 will carry sponsorship from Pole’s Automotive and sport a blue and white color scheme.
“We’re thrilled to have Joey in one of our cars for New Hampshire,” said Olsen. “He’s proven he can drive a racecar, and he’s personable on top of that. I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be successful in this race.”
Polewarczyk is entering the Heluva Good Fall 125 with realistic expectations of a top-10 finish, but the competitive side of him is going for it all.
“A top-10 would be great and that’s what we’re going to shoot for, but if we’re better than that we’re definitely going for it. We’ll adjust our goals as the race goes on,” he said.
The Heluva Good Fall 125 takes the green flag at 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, September 18th. Qualifying is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
For more information on Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Posts Fourth Place Finish In West Series Race
Newton, IA (September 7, 2009): Brett Moffitt waged a battle in the closing laps of the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway Friday night to post a fourth place finish in No. 4 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevrolet. Moffitt, making a rare appearance in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, pressured Max Gresham throughout the closing laps in his bid for third place but just fell short at the checkers.
“It came down to the end of the race and Brett caught Max (Gresham),” said Santerre. “We really came on in the last 25 laps. I told Brett to give it everything he had. He got under Max, but couldn’t quite clear him. They raced side-by-side for the last ten laps. We would get beside him in the turn, but Max would beat us down the straightaway. It was good racing and they put on a good show.”
Moffitt was among the six fastest cars in both practice sessions, but had to start 11th after posting a qualifying time of 24.339 seconds.
“The track slowed down a lot. We took the same car we had there in the spring for the combination race, but qualifying speeds were almost a second slower than it was back in May,” said Santerre. “The set-up we had was really good. We were close, but we never got the car balanced perfectly.”
Moffitt moved up to ninth at the drop of the green and settled into seventh by the halfway mark. The second half of the race was the most productive for Moffitt, who moved up to fourth by the time the race reached lap 100.
With eventual winner David Mayhew setting a torrid pace, Moffitt had to shoot for a top-three. When the car came in, Moffitt took off and immediately started challenging Gresham for third. It was a 20-lap battle that highlighted the closing laps of the race.
“This was the car that we wrecked at New Hampshire, and it had a new front clip and a new body. It was the first time out with it. We were pretty happy with how it ran and the set up that we had,” said Moffitt. “Obviously, I would have liked to win, but a top-five finish is nothing to balk at especially considering we had to come up through from 11th.”
Moffitt returns to action in the NASCAR Camping World Series East at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th. For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
Harrisburg, N.C. (August 31, 2009): Andy Santerre Motorsports together with driver Brett Moffitt have announced that they will compete in this weekend’s Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway, a NASCAR Camping World Series West event. Moffitt will be driving the No. 4 Chevrolet sponsored by Karl Chevrolet. This will be Moffitt’s third start at the track closest to his Grimes, Iowa hometown.
“We’re really excited to be heading back to Iowa Speedway,” said Moffitt. “The last time we were there we had a really competitive car, but we got tight in the last 20 laps or so and finished sixth. I know we can go there and run good so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll have my friends and family there, and I really think that Iowa is one of the best tracks I’ve gone to with the Camping World Series. I can’t think of a better place to give them a win!”
Moffitt is currently sixth in the NASCAR Camping World Series East point standings with one win, four top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. Only 14 points separate him from the fourth and fifth place drivers as the series comes to its final two-race stretch that kicks off at New Hampshire Motor Speedway later this month. The extra seat time at Iowa should be an advantage for the 17-year-old driver.
“Our last two races are on tracks a mile or bigger,” said Moffitt. “Iowa isn’t quite a mile, but its close enough. The seat time is what’s important. When you’re on track you get a momentum, you get better. We’re still within striking distance of the championship in the East Series so anything I can do to get closer to that, I will.”
Moffitt has cemented a reputation as a go-getter in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. He’s earned a place in the record books as the youngest driver in series history to win a pole, win a race, and lead the series point standings. But this weekend will mark his debut in a West Series stand-alone event.
“I raced with these guys back at the combination race with the East Series in May,” said Moffitt. “Everyone I raced with was clean, and I raced them clean. There are some talented drivers in the field and I look forward to racing with them again.”
The Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 takes place under the lights with an 8 p.m. start time on Friday, September 4th. For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
by Jay | Aug 30, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Harrisburg, N.C. (August 28, 2009): The Women’s Auxiliary of the NASCAR Camping World Series East has announced that it is now accepting applications for two $500 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to any person interested in pursuing a higher education (above high school level) that has an affiliation with the East Series or Women’s Auxiliary. The deadline for completed applications is September 30, 2009. Winners will be announced November 14, 2009 at the NASCAR Camping World East Series banquet in North Carolina.
Eligible students must be furthering their education at one of the following institutions: an Accredited Technical, Trade or Vocational School; a Public/Community College; Private/Proprietary College; Public or Private University; or Higher Educational Facility such as Medical School or Law School.
Applications can be obtained by calling Sue Santerre at 704-455-6665 or emailing [email protected].
