by Jay | Aug 16, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Lakeville, CT (August 16, 2009): Sometimes, no matter how hard you prepare, things just don’t go right.
Matt Kobyluck and the Mohegan Sun race team were keyed up about the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park this weekend. Not only was Mohegan Sun sponsoring the race, but Kobyluck’s record to date at the 1.53-mile course has been stellar. They were expecting nothing less than a podium finish. After setting fast time in both practice sessions, all indications were pointing to just that. But then the car stalled in the esses on his first qualifying lap.
Things just went downhill from there.
Kobyluck’s crew cleaned out the fuel cell, including drying out the foam, flushed out the lines, and changed out the carburetor. They replaced spark plugs and got the car running again. Because the NASCAR Camping World Series East event was an impound race, Kobyluck had no chance to take the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet out for a test drive.
The team was still optimistic despite a 21st starting position, but on the first lap of the 200-mile race, Kobyluck’s No. 40 came to a stop in the esses once again. The tow trucks were summoned and Kobyluck went to the pits.
There, he went 32 laps down while the crew addressed the problem once again. He did return to the track and Kobyluck was fast. He posted the second fastest lap of the day and gained a lap back by passing the leaders.
“We changed the fuel pump twice and changed the carburetor on pit road. When we pulled behind the wall we discovered there was a problem with the fuel pick up line. It had collapsed,” said Kobyluck. “When we did get back out there, we were running a second or so faster than everybody. If everything had gone right we had a shot at winning the race, but it is what it is.”
Kobyluck’s bad luck didn’t end there, however. At lap 70, Kobyluck was thrown into a dangerous situation that ultimately ended his day.
“The back end started coming around a little bit on me after I wheel-hopped it going into the corner on the uphill,” explained Kobyluck. “I got into the tire barrier, and I couldn’t back up so I was sitting there waiting for the local caution. It never came. After the 10 tagged me, it spun me around into the middle of the track. No one slowed down. It was one of the most unsafe positions I could be in. I was very fortunate because I was in the racing groove with my driver side door at traffic.”
Fortunately, Kobyluck was not hurt in the incident, but the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet was done. There was damage to both the front and rear of the car.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Kobyluck. “We’re out of the championship hunt now. Mathematically we still have a shot, and we will give it everything we’ve got, but with the way the 00 is running it’s going to be hard.”
For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or Mohegan Sun Racing, visit www.mattkobyluck.com.
by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
Rookie extends points lead with win No. 3
Official Release
August 15, 2009 – 8:27pm
LAKEVILLE, Conn. – NASCAR Camping World Series East rookie Ryan Truex completed the road-course sweep in the Mohegan Sun 200 Saturday at Lime Rock Park to move into the driver’s seat for the series title.
Matt DiBenedetto, who sat on the pole and led a race-high 56 laps, was caught up in an accident on Lap 70 and Truex – second place at the time – assumed the lead for the second time in the race. The 17-year-old from Mayetta, N.J., then held off series veteran Eddie MacDonald on the final two restarts to earn his third victory of the season.
Truex, a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, earned his first career victory on a road course at Watkins (N.Y.) Glen International in June and took the points lead for the first time after his first oval track win at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in July. On Saturday at Lime Rock, his win extended his lead in the championship standings to a season-high 50 points over MacDonald.
While MacDonald record his best career effort at the 1.53-mile road course, several other contenders struggled.
Defending race and series champion Matt Kobyluck, who entered the day 60 points behind Truex, had engine trouble from the start. The team worked to get his car back out onto the track and he was able to turn in 38 laps before being involved in the Lap 70 accident that eventually caught up race leader DiBenedetto. Kobyluck had to settle for a 17th place finish and is 133 points behind Truex with just two races remaining in his bid to repeat as NASCAR Camping World Series East champion.
Brett Moffitt (ninth), Steve Park (11th) and Jody Lavender (13th) all entered the event within 100 points of Truex but lost considerable ground.
Jason Holehouse earned his best career NASCAR Camping World Series East finish with a third-place effort on Saturday. He was followed in the top five by Alex Kennedy, with a new career-best finish as well, and Mike Olsen.
Jesus Hernandez, Ryan Duff, Dustin Delaney, Brett Moffitt and Jeff Anton rounded out the top 10.
The next-to-last race of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series season will take place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Heluva Good! Fall 125 is slated for Friday, Sept. 18.
by Jay | Aug 11, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
Uncasville, Conn. (August 11, 2009): Matt Kobyluck isn’t quite ready to turn over his title of road course King just yet. The 39-year-old driver, who has been dubbed the NASCAR Camping World Series East’s road racing ace, is ready to defend his win in the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park. Kobyluck won both road racing events last year during his championship winning ’08 season, but finished second to Ryan Truex at Watkins Glen this past June. Kobyluck, who wants to put his team and race sponsor Mohegan Sun Casino in victory lane, will accept nothing less than a win.
Kobyluck feels his preference for technicality in driving will be an advantage at Lime Rock Park. The 1.53-mile course is demanding on a driver, and hitting your marks is key to a solid finish.
“I love the road courses,” said Kobyluck. “In fact, our best finish this year was at Watkins Glen. At the same time, Lime Rock is a very challenging course and it demands a rhythm. You can try and overdrive at Lime Rock and you’ll end up going slower. It’s very easy to get off course there.”
Kobyluck’s success on the road courses isn’t understated. Since 2001, the driver of the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet, has four wins, eight top fives and 11 top 10’s in just 14 road-course starts. A win at Lime Rock Park this weekend would put Kobyluck in the record books. Right now, he’s tied with Butch Leitzinger as the only drivers to have won three times. A win this year would mark his third straight victory, but it would mean career win number four at Lime Rock Park.
“I don’t go to Lime Rock with the intention of breaking records. I just go there to win,” said Kobyluck. “But to put this team in a class all it’s own wouldn’t be such a bad thing either!”
Kobyluck is currently fourth in the points – 67 points behind leader Ryan Truex. Only 100 points separate the top six drivers in points with only three races remaining in the season.
For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or the Mohegan Sun race team, visit www.mattkobyluck.com.
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New Hampshire
North Haverhill, N.H. (August 10, 2009): Fadden Racing will field two cars at this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Series East 200-mile event as car owner Mike Olsen gets back behind the wheel of the championship-winning No. 61 to compete in only his second start this season. Jonathan Smith, driver of Fadden Racing’s No. 16 is especially optimistic about the return to road course racing whereas Lime Rock Park was where he started his go-kart career more than ten years ago.
The Smith family has a long and storied history at the Connecticut road course. Jonathan’s father, who will offer advice to his aspiring son, raced there as well. He considers it to be his home track since many of Smith’s early successes were produced there.
“I’m a big fan of road course racing so I consider that to be one of my strengths,” said Smith. “Loving a track is the first big hurdle to get over before you can be successful at it. I have a lot of good memories there and I love the challenge the course presents.”
Last season, Smith was forced to do a start and park in the event. He wrecked in practice and had no back-up car to lean on.
“I can’t wait to actually get to race Lime Rock again,” said Smith. “We didn’t get a lot of track time last year, but it’ll be different this year!”
Smith is also looking forward to having a teammate in his car owner Mike Olsen. Olsen, who won the 2001 and 2006 NASCAR Camping World Series East Championships, has had a tremendous record at the road course including ten top-10 and seven top-five finishes. His highest finish is second place and includes leading a career total of 43 laps at Lime Rock.
“I’ll be able to gain a lot of knowledge from Mike,” said Smith. “Mike is a strong road course racer and I’m definitely ready to learn from him.”
The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 14th with practice and qualifying followed by the green flag for the 82-lap event on Saturday, August 15th. For more information on Jonathan Smith, Mike Olsen, or Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Aug 2, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
BEAVER FALLS, N.Y. – Veteran Steve Park showed he hasn’t forgotten his way to Victory Lane, leading the final five laps Saturday evening at Adirondack International Speedway en route to the win in The Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems.
It was Park’s first NASCAR Camping World Series East victory in 13 years. He won twice in 1996, with the latter coming at the now closed Nazareth (Penn.) Speedway on July 1. Since, he has collected wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Series Truck Series. He has also won on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Park appeared on the verge of the win in the NASCAR Camping World Series previous race, July 11 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, only to lose the lead late to teenage rookie Ryan Truex.
This time, it was Park who got the jump on race leader Jody Lavender on the race’s final restart and led the the rest of the way. Truex got by Lavender in the closing laps to grab second. Jesus Hernandez and defending race winner Matt Kobyluck rounded out the top five.
With the win, Park locked up a secured spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The prestigious postseason race is scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2010 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
Eddie MacDonald won his first career Coors Light Pole Award and led a race-high 101 laps. However, he got shuffled back late in the race and finished 10th.
Truex was able to stretch his points lead to 26 over Lavender with three races remaining. The top six drivers are seperated by just 100 points.
NASCAR Camping World Series East-The Edge Hotel 150 pres. by Casella Waste Systems Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Adirondack International Speedway
Lowville, N.Y.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 80.000 mph, $8,000.
2. (9) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 150, $4,625.
3. (11) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 150, $3,700.
4. (10) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 150, $3,000.
5. (3) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600.
6. (16) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $3,900.
7. (8) Ty Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $1,700.
8. (2) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 150, $2,100.
9. (17) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $2,025.
10. (1) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $3,975.
11. (5) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,475.
12. (13) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,875.
13. (12) Tommy Cloce, Canton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,325.
14. (4) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 150, $1,775.
15. (18) Jason Holehouse, Toronto, Ontario, Toyota, 150, $1,230.
16. (14) Max Gresham, Griffin, Ga., Toyota, 149, $1,700.
17. (15) Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa., Dodge, 149, $1,670.
18. (19) Levi Arthur, Boonville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148, $1,150.
19. (20) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 146, $1,130.
20. (6) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 111, vibration, $1,615.
21. (21) Todd Peck, Glenville, Pa., Chevrolet, 98, vibration, $1,100.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 56 minutes 15 seconds
Margin of Victory: .619 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E.MacDonald (107.533 mph, 16.739 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 23 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. MacDonald 1-57; M. Kobyluck 58-61; E. MacDonald 62-92; B. Moffitt 93; E. MacDonald 94-106; J. Lavender 107-145; S. Park 146-150.
Standings: 1. R. Truex, 1227; 2. J. Lavender, 1201; 3. E. MacDonald, 1192; 4. M. Kobyluck, 1167; 5. S. Park, 1149; 6. B. Moffitt, 1127; 7. A. Tardiff, 1009; 8. D. Delaney, 1005; 9. R. Duff, 962; 10. A. Kennedy, 946.
by Jay | Jul 30, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Harrisburg, N.C. (July 28, 2009): Brett Moffitt has spent the last several weeks uncertain about his future in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, but despite the lack of sponsorship, Moffitt will continue on to the Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway with ASM Motorsports this weekend. While the uncertainty lingers on, Moffitt will attempt to add another win to his resume by mastering the tricky 9/10th’s mile.
“We’ve got a good shot at being successful in this series – meaning we can win the championship. We’ve proven our success with our performances and our win,” said Moffitt. “Right now we’re doing everything we can to find a marketing partner, but we’re only set as far as this race. I don’t know what the future holds for us after that. I wish I did.”
Winning is important – not just when you’re searching for a sponsor. Winning, after all, is why Moffitt does this. He’s quiet, but extremely competitive. He’s fan-friendly off the track and aggressive on it. Adirondack, he’s told, will be a challenge, and he’s ready to rise to the occasion.
“I haven’t been to Adirondack, but everyone keeps telling me how important a rhythm is there,” said Moffitt. “I think we’ll be good. We just have to worry about our own race and be there at the end.”
The visit to Adirondack International Speedway will be the series eighth visit to the track, and Andy Santerre Motorsports is banking on their previous success coupled with Moffitt’s natural ability behind the wheel to help them achieve their goal of victory lane. In seven events, the team has posted two wins, six top-five, and seven top-10 finishes at Adirondack. Santerre won the inaugural edition of the race in 2002 and his development driver, Sean Caisse, won in 2006.
“I have some of the best people in the business surrounding me,” said Moffitt. “I have 100 percent confidence in the car and the team. I know when I get there I’ll have a car that is capable of winning that race.”
The Edge Hotel 150 takes place Saturday, August 1st at Adirondack International Speedway in Lowville, N.Y. The green flag is slated to drop at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
