Andy
Santerre Adds Most Popular Driver Award to Busch North Series Title
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LOWELL,
Mass. (November 9, 2002) – Andy Santerre was officially presented
his 2002 Busch North Series, NASCAR Touring championship trophy
and ring at the annual Awards Ceremony before an audience of over
400 people at the historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Also honored
as principal members of the LesCare Kitchens Chevrolet team were
Andy's wife, Sue Santerre, as champion car owner, and Roger Tryon
as champion crew chief.
Santerre added the prestigious Most Popular Driver Award, voted
by the NASCAR members who participate in the series. Check presentations
from Goodyear and 76 Racing Gasoline completed his evening.
Dave Dion was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award and the Greg
Schaefer was named the Most Improved Driver. Both the latter awards
were selected by the Busch North Series officials and kept under
wraps until the ceremony.
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In
accepting his first career Busch North championship, Santerre thanked
his all-volunteer crew, who reside in eight different states, as
well as sponsor Jay Lestorti, for whom the title was the first after
many years of sponsoring NASCAR teams in New England. Sue Santerre,
in the combined role of car owner, spouse, and bookkeeper, noted
that in addition to being the team's only full-time employee, Andy
spent the equivalent of 27 days on the road between their North
Carolina home and the Busch North Series tracks. Most of those hours
were as his own truck driver.
Runner-up Matt Kobyluck spoke of the triumphs and disappointments
of his season, which saw the Mohegan Sun Chevrolet team fall just
nine points short of the title, and his pride in being the first
Native American driver to achieve such a level of success in NASCAR
racing. Kobyluck also accepted the Clevite Engine Builder of the
Year Award on behalf of his team's several engine suppliers. Third
place Brad Leighton, who previously announced plans to step back
from full-time competition in 2003, paid tribute to the Grizco Racing
team for their seven-year run of success together in the Busch North
Series. All expressed their gratitude for the guidance of the late
Bunk Sampson, the former Busch North Series Director who passed
away in September.
Trophies and checks for sponsored awards, based on seasonal point
standings, were also presented during the evening. Martin Truex
Jr. was the recipient of the $10,000 Bud Pole Award after setting
six fastest qualifying times. For the second straight year, Mike
Olsen earned the $7,500 Gatorade Front Runner Award for lap leadership.
Kip Stockwell collected the $7,500 Flowmaster Star of the Race Award
for position improvement, and Robbie Harrison was the Raybestos
Rookie-of-the-Year. Harrison receives $5,000 and rookie runner-up
Rick Bell $2,000.
The Busch North Series Women's Auxiliary presented its Recognition
Award to Pat Jett of Stockwell Racing and its annual scholarship
to Hillary Scott, whose family are members of the Grizco team.
In his keynote remarks, NASCAR Director of Weekly Racing Series
and Touring Series Chris Boals noted that the successful television
package with SPEED Channel has been renewed, with expanded national
television coverage for the Busch North Series in 2003 and beyond.
Mike Joy, the voice of NASCAR Racing on Fox Sports and a native
New Englander, served as Master of Ceremonies for the awards program.
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