By NASCAR Public Relations
July 14, 2006

LOUDON, N.H. --  Mike Olsen led only one lap in Friday’s New England 125 NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway, but it was the one that counted. He dramatically passed Sean Caisse in turn three to win his first superspeedway race and score his second straight series win, boosting his point lead to 54 over Caisse, who led 95 laps, or over three-quarters of the race.

As late as lap 110, it looked like Caisse would cruise to his third win of the year, but he developed a push just as the track conditions came to Olsen late on the hot, humid afternoon. The Little Trees Chevrolet blew past Eddie MacDonald for second and began to close the gap on Caisse, At the five-to-go sign Olsen attempted a risky outside pass, got alongside the leader but could not complete the move. He tried the outside again at the white flag but switched to the inside in turn three. Caisse could not keep his car on the bottom and Olsen sailed to the win by 0.242 seconds, or about four car lengths. As the checkered flag waved, Caisse found himself in a drag race with Jerry Marquis for second, with Caisse prevailing in a near photo-finish.

Tracy Gordon charged into fourth in the closing laps with MacDonald hanging on for fifth. Busch Pole winner Brian Hoar was sixth with an engine which never matched its qualifying potential, while Sunoco Rookie contenders Ruben Pardo and John Freeman enjoyed career best finishes in seventh and eighth. Freeman won the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award. Dave Dion hauled all the way from 40th and last on the grid to take ninth place and the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award. Joey MCarthy completed the top ten.

Peyton Sellers, in his NHIS debut, led the first nine laps from his outside front row start before Caisse swept by to begin his dominating performance. Caisse pitted early, at lap 21, allowing another AutoZone West Series visitor and first-time NHIS competitor, Andrew Myers, to lead 19 circuits before Caisse again took command. Olsen’s leadership of the last one-third lap won him $12,500 and helped him extend his Busch East Series lead, now 54 points over Caisse. Matt Koblyuck’s terrible NHIS luck continued as his engine failed after 35 laps, leaving him 36th at the finish, now over 150 points behind Olsen and dropping to third place.

Nine caution periods slowed the pace for 44 laps as Olsen averaged 85.428 miles per hour. Sellers’ accident on the back straight at lap 71 produced a red flag condition to clean up spilled fluid. A multi-car tangle in turn one eliminated John Salemi, Aaron Fike, and Patrick Dupree at lap 95, but no drivers were injured. Mike Johnson made contact with the inner front straight wall in the morning’s final practice session but his crew carried out extensive repairs and he finished 14th on the lead lap. Of the 40 starters, 28 were running at the checker, with 20 on the lead lap.

The Busch East Series returns to the short tracks on Saturday, July 29 with the Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, N.Y.

NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH EAST SERIES
New England 125
New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H., Friday,July 14, 2006
Final leaders of Friday's race with driver's starting position in parentheses, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1. (5) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, 85.428 mph, $12,500
2. (3) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $9,500
3. (16) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $7,800
4. (10) Tracy Gordon, Strong Me., Ford Taurus, 125, $7,300
5. (4) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $6,300
6. (1) Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge Intrepid, 125, $6,800
7. (17) Ruben Pardo, Mexico City Mexico, Dodge Intrepid, 125, $5,400
8. (23) John Freeman, Huntersville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $5,200
9. (40) Dave Dion, Hudson N.H., Ford Taurus, 125, $5,400
10. (13) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $4,000
11. (8) Kelly Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $3,150
12. (14) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor N.H., Ford Taurus, 125, $3,050
13. (34) Jamie Aube, Manchester N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $3,450
14. (6) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford Taurus, 125, $3,350
15. (20) Rocky Moran Jr., Irvine, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $2,750
16. (12) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $2,650
17. (21) Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $3,125
18. (26) Dale Quarterley, Westfield Mass., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $2,600
19. (18) Charles Lewandoski, Stafford Springs Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $3,075
20. (25) Rich Gould, North Brunswick N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $3,050
21. (19) Nick Joanides, Woodland Hills, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124, $2,525
22. (28) Dion Ciccarelli, Severn Md., Ford Taurus, 124, $3,000
23. (33) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124, $2,975
24. (36) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124, $2,910
25. (7) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121, $2,350
26. (29) Doug Krpata, Bethpage N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121, $2,325
27. (38) Pierre Bourque, Ottawa Ont., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121, $2,800
28. (37) Jeremy Clark, Cortland N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118, $2,800
29. (32) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, Accident, $2,800
30. (22) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, Accident, $2,300
31. (30) Patrick Dupree, Onchiota N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, Accident, $2,800
32. (24) Mike Gallo, Sanford Maine, Ford Taurus, 95, Accident, $2,300
33. (11) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, Overheating, $2,800
34. (2) Peyton Sellers, Danville Va., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 71, Accident, $2,300
35. (38) Brent Cross, Cortland N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 40, Engine, $2,800
36. (9) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 35, Engine, $2,800
37. (31) Kip Stockwell, Braintree, Vt., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 35, Electrical, $2,800
38. (27) Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 29, Overheating, $2,300
39. (35) Alex Hoag, Bath, N.Y., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 24, Suspension, $2,300
40. (15) Tim Andrews, Concord, N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 8, Clutch, $2,300

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 32 minutes, 11 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 85.428 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.242 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 9 for 44 laps
LEAD CHANGES 4 among 4 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Peyton Sellers 1-9, Sean Caisse 10-20, Andrew Myers 21-39, Caisse 40-124, Mike Olsen 125
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Brian Hoar, Goss dodge Intrpid (30.624 seconds @ 123.433 mph)
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Dave Dion, Berlin City/Continental Paving Ford
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: John Freeman, MTX/Kenwood Audio Chevrolet
UNOFFICIAL BUSCH EASE SERIES POINT STANDINGS (wins)
1. Mike Olsen (2) 1025
2. Sean Caisse (2) 971
3. Matt Kobyluck (1) 874
4. Mike Johnson 864
5. Brian Hoar 840
6. Bryon Chew (1) 831
7. Charles Lewandoski 808
8. Joey McCarthy 798
9. Eddie MacDonald 785
10.Ruben Pardo 754
NEXT RACE: Adirondack Intl Speedway, Beaver Falls, N.Y., Saturday, July 29