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By Al Robinson
June 27, 2006
Holland, NY -- Bryon
Chew scored his first NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East
Series victory after six years of trying Saturday night at Holland
International Speedway, leading only three laps of the Fuccillo Auto
Park HUGE 150. Dueling side-by-side with leader Mike Johnson on a
restart at lap 145, the Long Island driver finally claimed the lead
for good on the white flag lap, winning by 0.221 seconds. Mike Olsen
edged Tracy Gordon for third and closed to within 22 points of
leader Sean Caisse, who placed eighth.
Caisse won his second consecutive Busch Pole award and led the first
63 laps, seeking a historic third straight win to open the season.
Then Olsen, looking for his first wins since 2003, caught Caisse and
the pair swapped the lead five times during the middle stages. With
less than 40 laps to run Johnson, locked out of victory lane since
2004, surged to the front, only to be overcome by Chew on the
decisive restart. Gordon, the last Busch East Series driver to win
three in a row back in 2000, was a swift mover in the closing laps
but ran out of time to mount a challenge for his first win since
2002. MacDonald’s fifth pace run was his best with the new team he
formed on the eve of the season opener.
Gordon won the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award for advancing
11 positions from start to finish, while Johnson captured the
Featherlite Most Improved Driver award for turning around a
miserable finish at Stafford Motor Speedway one week ago. For the
first time, John Freeman was the leading Sunoco Rookie contender.
Four drivers- Caisse, Olsen, Johnson, and Chew- traded the lead nine
times as nine caution periods slowed the action for 47 laps. Of the
26 starters, 23 were running at the finish with 15 on the lead lap.
There were no significant incidents as all three retirements were
due to mechanical issues.
The Busch East Series resumes action Thursday night, June 29, at
Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in a doubleheader with the
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH EAST SERIES
Fuccillo Auto Park HUGE 150
Holland International Speedway, Holland, N.Y., Saturday, June 24,
2006
UNOFFICIAL FINISH - driver's starting position in parentheses,
hometown, make and model of car,laps completed, reason out (if any)
and prize money.
1. (7) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$7,733
2. (8) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford Taurus, 150, $3,733
3. (6) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$3,133
4. (15) Tracy Gordon, Strong Me., Ford Taurus, 150, $2,800
5. (3) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$2,433
6. (10) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$2,083
7. (2) Charles Lewandoski, Stafford Springs Conn , Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,983
8. (1) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,883
9. (4) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,783
10. (14) Kip Stockwell, Braintree VT., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,783
11. (9) Rogelio Lopez, Mexico, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,733
12. (19) Alex Hoag, Bath N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $975
13. (11) John Freeman, Huntersville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
150, $950
14. (23) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,658
15. (12) Carlos Pardo, Mexico, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $900
16. (24) Patrick Dupree, Onchiota N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149,
$825
17. (16) Ruben Pardo, Mexico City Mexico, Dodge Intrepid, 149, $800
18. (5) Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge Intrepid, 148, $1,508
19. (17) Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 143,
$1,458
20. (25) Pierre Bourque, Ottawa Ont., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 141,
$700
21. (13) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
137, $1,433
22. (22) Jeremy Clark, Cortland n.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118,
$700
23. (26) Brent Cross, Cortland N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 117,$700
24. (20) Dion Ciccarelli, Severn Md., Ford Taurus, 118, Engine, $700
25. (18) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 49,
Suspension, $1,433
26. (21) Rich Gould, North Brunswick N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
45, Engine, $700
TIME OF RACE: 57 minutes, 50 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 57.579 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.221 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 9 for 47 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 9 among 4 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Sean Caisse 1-63, Mike Olsen 64-74, Caisse 75-84, Olsen
85-95, Caisse 96-98, Olsen 99-116, Mike Johnson 117-146, Bryon Chew
147, Johnson 148, Chew 149-160
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Sean Caisse, Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet
(14.494 seconds @ 93.142 mph)
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Tracy Gordon, Archer
Corp./The Woodworks Ford
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Mike Johnson, Johnson Lumber
Ford
UNOFFICIAL BUSCH EAST SERIES POINT STANDINGS (wins)
1. Sean Caisse (2) 527
2. Mike Olsen 505
3. Matt kobyluck 483
4. Bryon Chew (1) 474
5. Charles Lewandoski 434
6. Mike Johnson 428
7. Kip Stockwell 398
8. Jeff Anton 390
9. Eddie MacDonald 385
10. Joey McCarthy 380
NEXT RACE: Thompson Intl Speedway, Thompson, Conn., Thurs., June 29
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