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 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
Uncasville, Conn. (July 27, 2009): Defending 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East Champion Matt Kobyluck wants to end a seven-race winless streak when the series embarks on Adirondack International Speedway Saturday, August 1stfor the running of the Edge Hotel 150. His record at the 9/10th’s mile oval makes him a favorite for achieving that goal and closing the gap on the point lead.
Kobyluck has a stellar record at Adirondack. In the past seven races there, he’s posted three wins, five top-five, and five top-10 finishes. His victory last season was redemption of sorts for an 11th place finish in 2007 that was the result of being black flagged for supposedly jumping the start while leading the race. Heading into a track where they’ve had so much success is a momentum builder for the entire team.
“We have a good set up for that track and Matt’s driving style just works there,” said crew chief Perry Waite. “We’ve changed our setups to keep up with the ways things are changing, but we still run good there. It’s just the type of track that everything falls into place for us. We’re as confident going there this year as we’ve been any other year.”
Entering the Edge Hotel 150, Kobyluck, driver of the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet, sits fourth in the point standings, and just 50 points behind current leader Ryan Truex. With only four races remaining in the season, every race counts and every race demands a solid performance.
“We’re still in this game,” said Kobyluck. “It’s one of the tightest point battles we’ve ever had. It kind of reminds me of our 2002 season when we lost the championship to Andy Santerre by only nine points. This year is going to be a lot like that. It’s going to be close – very close – and we have to step up our game with a win.”
Of the top four drivers in the point standings, it is Kobyluck who has the most seat time at Adirondack. Truex has never been there, and Jody Lavender, currently second in the points, has one start at the upstate New York facility. Eddie MacDonald has only missed one race in the seven year history of the event, but has only two top-five finishes to his credit.
“All these drivers are very competitive,” said Kobyluck. “And I’m not counting any of them out. Eddie MacDonald has a lot of time on Adirondack and has really stepped up his performances there since joining Grimm Racing. Jody had a top-five finish in his first start there and Ryan is just good anywhere he goes. It’s a competitive division and it’s going to be a competitive race.”
The Edge Hotel 150 takes the green flag at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday night. For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or the race team, visitwww.mattkobyluck.com.
