The
"Racing For Clean Air" Team Captain Andy Santerre
Scores
A Top 10 At Lime Rock Park - May 29, 2004
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LAKEVILLE,
Conn. – Brad Leighton scored his long-sought first NASCAR Grand
National Division, Busch North Series road course victory Saturday
at Lime Rock Park. It was his second straight win of the 2004 season
and his 23rd Busch North victory overall, stretching his point lead
and moving him within two wins of Kelly Moore’s series record.
Leighton
had come close to several road course wins in the past, one of the
most frustrating when Dale Quarterley passed him with three laps
remaining at Lime Rock last October. This time it was Quarterley
who led as the field began lap 80 of the 82-lap race, but Leighton
scraped past as Quarterley left a momentary opening and went on
to win by 1.5 seconds. Leighton started 19th as the lineup was set
by 2003 car owner points following heavy rain on Friday. Quarterley
was gridded sixth, but started at the tail of the 33-car field after
a pre-race engine change.
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Mike Olsen, who led the middle stages until he was overhauled by
Quarterley, finished third with Bil Penfold fourth and Mike Johnson
fifth. Defending series champion Andy Santerre, Brad Bennett, Bryon
Chew, Kelly Moore, and first-time competitor Jeremy Treadway completed
the top ten. Leighton’s Irving Oil/ Mainway Ford averaged
69.304 miles per hour as seven caution periods slowed the pace for
33 laps.
Mike
Stefanik led the first 41 laps from the outside of the front row
before pitting at the halfway mark. He was never a factor after
that point and eventually stopped on the track with front end damage,
finishing 26th.
Jack
Lewis, a veteran road racer making his first Busch North Series
start, earned the PowerAde Power Move of the Race Award by advancing
21 places, from 32nd at the start to 11th at the finish., while
Kelly Moore was the Featherlite Most Improved Driver thanks to a
finish 16 places better than the previous race at Thompson, Conn.
Doug Krpata, 16th in the final rundown, was the highest finishing
Auto Meter Rookie of the Year contender.
The
Busch North Series next sees action in two weeks with the Budweiser
150 at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway on Saturday, June 12.
Click HERE for the Joe Bessey
Motorsports press release.
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NASCAR
Busch North Series 2004 Top 5 Point Standings:
After
Race #3 at Lime Rock Park, May 29, 2004.
| 1. |
508 |
Brad
Leighton |
| 2. |
473 |
Andy
Santerre |
| 3. |
459 |
Mike
Olsen |
| 4. |
449 |
Ryan
Moore |
| 5. |
447 |
Dale
Quarterley |
More
Information at Nascar.com - >>
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