The
"Racing For Clean Air" Team Captain Andy Santerre
Remains
in the Top 5 Point Standings after NASCAR Busch North Race #3
Nazareth Speedway - May 18, 2002
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NAZARETH,
Pa. - Ted Christopher chased Matt Kobyluck for 30 laps before making
the winning pass on lap 80 in Saturday's Burnham Boiler 100 at Nazareth
Speedway. Then Christopher spent the last 25 laps working just as
hard to keep Kobyluck behind him. At the checkered flag, the winning
margin was 0.107 seconds as Kobyluck last-lap charge fell a car
length short.
Brad Leighton, in his sponsor's race, finished a solid third to
take over the Busch North Series, NASCAR Touring point lead from
Andy Santerre, who settled for 22nd. Bill Penfold equaled his best
career finish with fourth, and Martin Truex Jr. came from the back
of the field to garner fifth.
Bud Pole winner Paul Wolfe dominated the first half of the race,
but pitted during a caution period with 50 laps complete. A 36-lap
green flag run foiled Wolfe chances to score his first Busch North
Series victory, and he settled for sixth just ahead of Brian Hoar,
who started last in the field. Dale Shaw, Mike Olsen, and Tracy
Gordon completed the top ten.
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Christopher started ninth and averaged 94.666 miles per hour to
score his eighth career Busch North victory, but his first at Nazareth.
Four drivers traded the lead four times, with the caution flag displayed
five times for 28 laps. Remarkably, all 32 starters were running
with less than 15 laps remaining. Then Carey Heath crashed and Joey
McCarthy did likewise on the restart as Dale Quarterley spun the
length of the front straight without damage. No driver injures were
reported.
The McCarthy incident sent the race into overtime to achieve the
green flag finish required by Busch North Series rules, and added
a note of drama as none of the top four had pitted. All of them
made it the added five laps to the finish.
Wolfe led 14 drivers in breaking the old track record in Bud Pole
Qualifying. The new mark is 27.923 seconds at 126.926 miles per
hour. Wolfe also won the Gatorade Front Runner Award for leading
the most laps, and Robbie Harrison was the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Race.
Leighton now leads the standings in search of his third title, with
495 points to 480 for Kobyluck and 462 for Shaw. Santerre fell to
fourth with 447.
After two straight superspeedway events, the Busch North Serirs
returns to its short track roots next Satursay night, May 25, with
the Budweiser 150 at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Mass. |
Click
here for the Busch North Series Race Report on the Burnham Boilers
100, Nazareth Speedway
NASCAR
Busch North Series 2002 Top 5 Point Standings:
After
Race #3, May 18, 2002
| 1. |
495 |
Brad
Leighton |
| 2. |
480 |
Matt
Kobyluck |
| 3. |
462 |
Dale Shaw |
| 4. |
447 |
Andy Santerre |
| 5. |
446 |
Mike Olsen |
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