BEAVER FALLS, New York -- Matt Kobyluck outraced Andy Santerre and Ryan Moore in a frantic finish to win Saturday night’s The Edge Hotel 150 NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series race at Adirondack International Speedway, to the delight of a near-capacity crowd of North Country fans. It was his second straight win in this event, his third win of 2005, and the seventh victory of his career. Kobyluck and Moore traded the lead three times before Santerre came charging into the picture with five laps remaining. Mike Stefanik finished fourth to retain a seven point lead over Kobyluck in the series standings.
Mike Olsen completed the top five, with Joey McCarthy, Mike Johnson, Bryon Chew, Ryan Seaman, and leading Sunoco Rookie finisher Jeff Anton rounding out the top ten.
Moore earned the Busch Pole Award and led the first 44 laps before Kobyluck squeezed past. Mike Stefanik led briefly on a restart, but the next major change came when Moore retook the point on lap 114. Digging deep on his worn tires, Kobyluck took the lead for the final time with eight laps remaining, keeping alive the streak which has seen the winner emerge in the final 15 laps in each of the four runnings of this race.
Kobyluck was not home free, though, as Santerre, on fresh Goodyear Eagles, became a factor in the closing moments. A restart with two laps to go gave him a chance as he passed Moore and challenged Kobyluck on the last lap. But the Busch North Series’ biggest driver stood tall and won by a car length as the top five finishers were covered by the proverbial blanket at Shawn Houlihan’s checkered flag.
The contest was so closely matched that Kobyluck led three times for 75 laps, exactly half the race, and Moore led 73 laps. Stefanik was credited with leading two laps.
Ryan Seaman earned the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award by advancing from 24th and last at the start to finish ninth, a career best. Kip Stockwell improved 13 places over his finish last week at Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl to claim the Featherlite most Improved Driver Award. There were eleven caution periods for 50 laps.
Kobyluck’s maximum point score for winning while leading the most laps moved him within seven points of Stefanik, 998 to 991, with Santerre 30 points behind the leader. The Busch North Series next sees action in a rare mid-week event at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn., on Wednesday, August 10.
The Edge Hotel 150
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
Adirondack International Speedway, Beaver Falls, N.Y., Saturday, July 30, 2005
UNOFFICIAL FINISH (finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown, manufacturer, laps completed, reason out if any, money won)
1. (5) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 150, 63.291 mph, $7,544
2. (7) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $5,044
3. (1) Ryan Moore, Scarborough ME., Chevrolet, 150, $4,544
4. (4) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $3,044
5. (10) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $2,544
6. (6) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $2,044
7. (2) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 150, $1,844
8. (9) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,744
9. (24) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $2,644
10. (16) Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $1,544
11. (17) Carlos Pardo, Mexico, Chevrolet, 150, $975
12. (21) Kip Stockwell, Braintree VT., Chevrolet, 150, $1,769
13. (11) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $1,444
14. (20) Rob Humphreys, Elbridge N.Y., Chevrolet, 149, $1,419
15. (18) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Pontiac, 143, $1,369
16. (22) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet, 138, $1,344
17. (3) Brian Hoar, Williston VT., Intrepid, 124, Engine, $1,289
18. (13) Dave Dion, Hudson N.H., Ford, 121, Engine, $1,269
19. (15) John Cerbone, City Island N.Y., Chevrolet, 119, Engine, $1,269
20. (23) Laine Chase, Beverly Mass., Chevrolet, 96, $1,269
21. (12) Dale Shaw, Center Conway N.H., Chevrolet, 71, Accident, $1,269
22. (8) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet, 62, Engine, $1,269
23. (19) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 46, Rear End, $1,269
24. (14) Charles Lewandoski, Stafford Springs Conn , Chevrolet, 8, Rear End, $1,269
25. (25) Billy Osta, Rotterdam N.Y., Chevrolet, 0, DNS, $725
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 11 minutes, 6 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 63.291 mph
CAUTION PERIODS: 11 for 50 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 5 among 3 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Ryan Moore 1-44, Matt Kobyluck 45-74, Mike Stefanik 75-76, Kobyluck 77-113, Moore 114-142, Kobyluck 143-150
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Ryan Moore, R.C. Moore/Bill Dodge Chevrolet (16.693 seconds @ 107.830 mph)
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Ryan Seaman, Erbe Carting Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Kip Stockwell, Sabil & Sons/Randolph Bank Chevrolet
NEXT RACE: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn., Wednesday, August 10
