SEAN CAISSE WINS IN NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL AT ELKO

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 05/18/2007

Caisse got the jump on the rest of the Grand National Division field Friday night on a green-white-checkered finish and won the historic Minnesota 150 at Elko Speedway. The race marked the first time that the West Series and Busch East Series ran in the same event with points on the line.

“Our car was really good on long runs,” said Caisse, who led the last 52 laps and weathered three cautions. “The restarts were really tough on the bottom, but it worked out for us.”

The win earned Caisse, who started on the pole, a spot in the postseason Toyota All-Star Showdown in October.

While rookies dominated qualifying, taking seven of the top 10 spots, it was the veterans that ended up front in the end. Longtime Busch East driver Bryon Chew and West Series points leader Mike David finished second and third respectively. Chew started 23rd and David started 18th.

“I tried to avoid the accidents and put myself in position to win,” Chew said. “I felt I got myself in position on that last lap, but Sean restarted a little better.”

Rogelio Lopez was fourth and Mike Olsen fifth. Peyton Sellers recovered from a mid-race spin to finish sixth, while Jesus Hernandez, Justin Lofton, Eric Hardin, and Michelle Theriault rounded out the top 10.

Joey Logano, who won the first two Grand National events he ran in, was involved in a lap 144 spin with Brian Ickler while battling for second. Logano finished 19th and Ickler, who qualified second, ended up 20th.

NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION-MINNESOTA 150 Results

Friday

At Elko Speedway

Elko, MN

Lap length: 0.375 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (1) Sean Caisse, Pelham, N.H., Chevrolet, 156 laps, 49.137 mph, $9,410.

2. (23) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 156, $4,860.

3. (18) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 156, $3,960.

4. (12) Rogelio Lopez, Mexico City, Mexico, Chevrolet, 156, $2,446.

5. (5) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 156, $2,860.

6. (11) Peyton Sellers, Danville, Va., Chevrolet, 156, $1,600.

7. (10) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Chevrolet, 156, $1,775.

8. (16) Justin Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 156, $1,503.

9. (30) Eric Hardin, Anahiem, Calif., Chevrolet, 156, $2,403.

10. (19) Michelle Theriault, Bristol, Conn., Chevrolet, 156, $1,175.

11. (9) Jamie Hayes, Norlina, N.C., Chevrolet, 156, $1,100.

12. (17) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 156, $1,985.

13. (14) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Chevrolet, 156, $1,050.

14. (29) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass, Chevrolet, 156, $1,435.

15. (24) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 156, $1,360.

16. (15) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 156, $1,286.

17. (7) Tim Schendel, Sparta, Wis., Dodge, 156, $800.

18. (26) Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford, 156, $928.

19. (4) Joey Logano, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 156, $800.

20. (2) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 156, $2,710.

21. (27) Ruben Pardo, Mexico City, Mexico, Dodge, 155, $928.

22. (25) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 155, $1,082.

23. (28) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 154, $1,210.

24. (3) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 145, accident, $1,082.

25. (8) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, Md., Chevrolet, 144, $800.

26. (22) Alex Haase, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 108, $1,210.

27. (20) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 67, clutch, $1,210.

28. (13) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Chevrolet, 50, accident, $928.

29. (21) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Chevrolet, 50, accident, $1,210.

30. (6) Richard Jarvis, Jr., Ocean City, Md., Chevrolet, 37, engine, $800.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 11 minutes 26 seconds

Margin of Victory: .305 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: S.Caisse (95.440 mph, 14.145 seconds)

Caution Flags: 9 for 72 laps.

Lead Changes: 4 among 2 drivers.

Lap Leaders: S.Caisse 1-28; M.Olsen 29-41; S.Caisse 42-72; M.Olsen 73-103; S.Caisse

104-156.

Unofficial

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