Sean Caisse Scores First NASCAR Busch East Series Win In 2006 Season Opener At Greenville-Pickens; Huge Crowd Cheers Return Of Grand National Division To Historic Speedway
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sean Caisse, the 2005 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, won his first career NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway Saturday night. Caisse, driving for four-time champion Andy Santerre, took the lead for the final time on lap 142 of An American Revolution 150 presented by Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet. A near-capacity crowd at NASCAR’s second–oldest speedway, including racing legends David Pearson and Jack Ingram, enthusiastically enjoyed the classic short track bumping, grinding, and three-wide racing on the nearly flat half mile track where the first live NASCAR telecast on a major network took place 35 years ago.
Brian Hoar, Mike Olsen, Matt Kobyluck, and Bryon Chew completed the top five after all took a shot at victory in the hectic closing stages, along with hard-luck Ryan Moore who spun as he lost the lead to Caisse and finished 24th. Hoar, who challenged with an inside move on the final restart, was just .268 seconds behind. The most audacious bid came from Kobyluck, who waited until the final 40 laps to pit for fresh tires and restarted 13th. He fell short of catching Olsen for third by half a car length.
Mike Johnson was sixth, followed by Jeff Anton in seventh, John Salemi eighth, and Charles Lewandoski ninth, representing best career finishes for all three. Kip Stockwell completed the top ten. A dozen caution periods, mostly for minor spins, slowed the race which saw 25 of 30 starters running at the finish, with 18 on the lead lap. The only significant accident came when Doug Krpata crashed in turn one without injury.
Olsen won his ninth career Busch Pole Award, setting an automatic track record at 20.579 seconds, 86.709 miles per hour to edge Caisse for the time trial honors. Jeremy Clark, in his first series start, advanced 14 positions from start to finish to capture the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award. Brian Hoar was the Featherlite Most Improved Driver, moving up 25 spots from the final race of 2005. By leading the most laps, Caisse scored the maximum 185 points to lead Hoar and Olsen by 15 markers heading to next Friday’s TSI Harley-Davidson 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn.
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH EAST SERIES
An American Revolution 150 presented by Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet
Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, S.C., Saturday, June 10, 2006
Finish
Start
Car #
Driver
Hometown
Car
Laps
Money Won
Reason Out
1
2
44
Sean Caisse
Pelham, N.H.
Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet
150
$7,781
2
10
45
Brian Hoar
Williston, Vt.
Goss Dodge Dodge
150
$5,081
3
1
61
Mike Olsen
N. Haverhill, N.H.
Little Trees Chevrolet
150
$4,781
4
7
40
Matt Kobyluck
Uncasville, Conn.
Mohegan Sun Chevrolet
150
$3,281
5
4
99
Bryon Chew
Mattituck, N.Y.
Buzz Chew Chevrolet Chevrolet
150
$2,781
6
11
96
Mike Johnson
Salisbury, Mass.
Johnson Lumber Ford
150
$2,281
7
13
30
Jeff Anton
Russell, Mass.
Engineered Floors Chevrolet
150
$1,981
8
15
15
John Salemi
Nashua, N.H.
Waste Management Chevrolet
150
$1,956
9
16
01
Charles Lewandoski
Stafford Springs, Conn.
Lewandoski Construction Chevrolet
150
$1,931
10
20
16
Kip Stockwell
Braintree, Vt.
Stockwell Racing Chevrolet
150
$1,881
11
9
88
Jody Lavender
Hartsville, S.C.
Aaron's Ford
150
$1,000
12
5
31
Peyton Sellers
Danville, Va.
Whelen Engineering Chevrolet
150
$975
13
22
84
Dion Ciccarelli*
Severn, Md.
Star Sales Ford
150
$950
14
17
72
Randy MacDonald
Oshawa, Ont.
MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet
150
$925
15
29
25
Jeremy Clark*
Cortland, N.Y.
ING Chevrolet
150
$1,900
16
12
8
Laine Chase
Beverly, Mass.
Hot Tubs & More Chevrolet
150
$1,656
17
28
26
Scott Bouley
Thomaston, Conn.
Chevrolet
150
$1,631
18
26
10
Pierre Borque
Ottawa, Ont.
Full Metal Minerals Chevrolet
150
$825
19
3
48
Eddie MacDonald
Rowley, Mass.
Chevrolet
150
$1,581
20
23
12
Ruben Pardo
Mexico
Family Dollar Dodge
149
$775
21
25
24
Patrick Dupree
Onchiota, N.Y.
Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet
148
$750
22
27
14
Joe Masessa
Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Skin Cancer Foundation Chevrolet
143
$1,531
23
19
1
Alex Hoag
Bath, N.Y.
Chevrolet
143
$750
24
6
74
Ryan Moore
Scarborough, Me.
R.C. Moore Chevrolet
141
$1,531
25
8
3
Joey McCarthy
Randolph, N.J.
STI Motorsports Chevrolet
129
$1,531
26
24
92
Doug Krpata
Bethpage, N.Y.
Island Trees Automotive Chevrolet
89
$750
Accident
27
14
5
John Freeman
Huntersville, N.C.
Freeman's Stereo Video Chevrolet
89
$750
Overheating
28
18
2
Rich Gould
N. Brunswick, N.J.
Nassau Painting Chevrolet
89
$750
Transmission
29
30
97
Brent Cross
Cortland, N.Y.
LaCross Motorsports Chevrolet
37
$750
Overheating
30
21
67
Jamie Aube
Manchester, N.H.
Red Line Oil Chevrolet
17
$750
Accident
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 31 mins, 56 secs Average Speed: 48.949 mph Margin of Victory: 0,268 seconds Caution Flags: 12 for 79 laps.
Lap Leaders: Mike Olsen 1, Sean Caisse 2-57, Mike Olsen 58-61, Matt Kobyluck 62-87, Ryan Moore 88-136, Sean Caisse 137-140, Ryan Moore 141, Sean Caisse 142-150. 7 changes involving 4 drivers.
Busch Pole Award: Mike Olsen, Little Trees Chevrolet (20.759 seconds @ 86.709 mph) POWERade Power Move of the Race Award: Jeremy Clark, ING Chevrolet Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: Brian Hoar, Goss Dodge
Top 10 Driver Points: Sean Caisse 185, Brian Hoar 170, Mike Olsen 170, Matt Kobyluck 165, Bryon Chew 155, Mike Johnson 150, Jeff Anton 146, John Salemi 142, Charles Lewandoski 138, Kip Stockwell 134
Next Race: TSI Harley Davidson 150, Stafford Motor Speedway,Stafford Springs, Conn., Fri.,June 16
