by Al Robinson
November 1, 2005
THOMPSON, Conn. -- Andy Santerre has won four
straight Busch North Series championships. How remarkable is that?
Well, no one has ever won four straight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
championships. Nor has anyone taken four straight NASCAR Busch
Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titles. It's been done just
twice in the history of all current NASCAR touring series: first by
Ray Elder in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series from
1969 to 1972, and then by Steve Carlson in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Midwest Series from 2000 to 2003. In fact, both those
series changed their name during the four-year run, so Santerre is
the first to win four straight titles under the same banner.
Richie Evans won eight consecutive NASCAR Modified Division crowns
from 1978 to 1985, but only the last of those was under a touring
series format.
While the series' identity has remained a constant, Santerre's
racing operation has undergone two major changes during his title
run. In 2002, he was a pure independent, working alone in the shop
and towing his car from North Carolina to New England himself. His
championship margin over Matt Kobyluck was only nine points. In 2003
and 2004, he was a hired driver for Joe Bessey, himself a former
Busch North Series championship runner-up, and the team enjoyed the
sponsorship of Aubuchon Hardware stores. Both titles were won by
over 200 points.
For 2005, Santerre accepted the job as team manager for Grizco
Racing, with his own driving a second priority to the preparation of
a two car team all season, which swelled to a three-car team in six
races where Brad Leighton joined Andy and Mike Stefanik. Yet again
he won, beating his own teammate by 42 points.
What does the future hold? For years Andy has suggested he might be
ready to step into the role of fulltime team manager. Yet when he
bounded from the car at Thompson, stood on the window sill and
raised both hands in triumph with four fingers extended, he didn't
look at all like a man ready to lean on the tool box.
* * *
While the 2005 season belonged to Andy Santerre, the season finale
at Thompson belonged to Eddie MacDonald, Jerry Morello, and Rollie
Lachance in a big way. Eddie Mac led all but eight laps and
dismissed every challenger with ease. MacDonald, of course, was a
member of the vintage rookie class of 2001 which also produced Brian
Hoar and Joey McCarthy. His small team, with crew chief Mark Durgin
and a Jason Janvrin chassis handed down from Paul Richardson, scored
a memorable upset win at Beech Ridge in 2002. Then Durgin tried his
hand at driving and Eddie teamed with Chris Raymond, who brought
Ford rolling stock from his former employer, the Bryan Wall team.
For two years they showed a ton of promise, but no victories.
Meanwhile, Epping, N.H. businessman Jerry Morello had run Durgin's
car in 2003 and brought Jamie Aube back to Busch North Series
full-time in 2004. Both had their moments in the sun, but for 2005
Morello made the big upgrade with MacDonald turning the wheel and
Lachance, a veteran of many successes with Tracy Gordon and Ryan
Moore, twisting the wrenches. It was a roller coaster season- in the
first 12 races they were in the top ten six times and 20th or worse
five times- but it ended on the highest possible note at Thompson,
moving them into the top ten of the final standings.
* * *
CORRECTIONS: After the unofficial finish was released Sunday night,
a scoring review found Rogelio Lopez should be scored in 20th place
rather than 14th on the lead lap as originally posted. Six drivers-
Dale Shaw, Ryan Seaman, John Salemi, Bryon Chew, Mike Johnson, and
Jeff Anton each move up one place as a result and gain three points
in the final standings, but none of the top 20 positions which share
in the Busch North Series point fund change as a result.
Two other typos were discovered in the unofficial finish as well.
Ryan Moore's point total did not reflect his 25-point penalty, and
Don Wagner's money won was incorrect. The revised official race
report is attached reflecting these corrections.
* * *
Milestones.... Mike Stefanik ran every lap of the season, while Andy
Santerre missed only one... Brad Leighton failed to extend his streak
of winning seasons that began in 1996, and Mike Johnson's similar
streak from 2000 was also broken, Both had won in their rookie
seasons an every year since... Sean Caisse's seventh place in points
is the best for a Sunoco Rookie since Leighton in '96., and his two
Busch Poles are the best for a freshman since Ricky Craven in 1990...
Tracy Gordon recorded his second top ten in three starts for the
Fred Skaff team... Jamie Aube, making only two starts, failed to
record a top ten for only the second time in his career... Charles Lewandoski's 11th was a Busch North Series career best.
