6/24/06

BRYON CHEW TASTES BUSCH EAST VICTORY FOR THE FIRST EVER TIME IN HOLLAND 150

 
Chew Wins First Busch East Series Race in Thrilling Finish With Mike Johnson at Holland; Third Place Mike Olsen Closes on Point Leader Sean Caisse

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.

RESULTS

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

Source: NASCAR PR
Posted: June 25, 2006