Busch East Point War Moves To Speedbowl
By Pete Zanardi
August 14, 2006

WATERFORD, Conn. -- Veteran Mike Olsen and sophomore sensation Sean Caisse bring their NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series Championship battle to Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night. The Big Y World Class Markets 150 is the seventh Busch East Series visit to The 'Bowl.

Montville's Matt Kobyluck will be looking to repeat last year's success.
A one-time Speedbowl regular (13 career Late Model Division wins), Kobyluck won the pole and then delighted the home crowd with an impressive victory.

The 150 tops a five-division program that also includes the Speedbowl's SK-Modifieds, Late Model, Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions. Busch time trials are slated for 5 PM. Feature racing begins a 6 PM with the SKs.

The 150, slated for a 7:40 start, will be televised live by HDNET and by Speednet at a later date.

The Busch gang will be aiming at Martin Truex Jr.'s 14.980 seconds record run in qualifying. The present NEXTEL Cup regular set the mark in 2002.

Neither leader Olsen or Caisse, separated by 37 points, is a stranger to the Speedbowl. Olsen had finished third in the last two series visits. Caisse, sixth last year en route to the series' top Rookie honor, has also driven NEMA Midgets and Whelen Modifieds at The 'Bowl.

The 20-year old Caisse, driving a car owned and maintained by four-time Series champ Andy Santerre, is one of the top "young guns" in NASCAR and comes to the Speedbowl looking for his fourth win of the season.

Olsen, the 2001 champion, drives for another Series legend, Hall of Famer Stub Fadden.

The battle for third -- a single point separates Brian Hoar and Bryon Chew -- also rages. A one-time Speedbowl Legends regular, Byron Crew was second a year ago and third in 2003. Hoar, a five-year Series regular, hopes to end a run of bad luck at The 'Bowl.

Currently running fifth in points, Kobyluck hopes the "home field advantage" pays dividends again. It is, he says, a difficult place to win demanding concentration and patience.

Charles Lewandoski (Stafford Springs) and Scott Bouley (Wolcott) will join Kobyluck in representing the state. Lewandoski runs eighth in the point battle.

Other notable entries include Mike Johnson, a two-time (2001, 04) Speedbowl winner, Joey McCarthy, Jeff Anton, Kip Stockwell, veteran Tracy Gordon, Mark Durgin and Dion Ciccarelli.

Waterford Speedbowl
Busch East Winners

2000: Brad Leighton
2001 Mike Johnson
2002 Kelly Moore
2003 Kelly Moore
2004 Mike Johnson
2005 Matt Kobyluck