Tough Outing at Watkins Glen for Kelly Moore : Raceway Media

Watkins Glen, NY – The NAPA Auto Parts team endured a rough weekend at the famed Watkins Glen International Speedway in Western New York. NASCAR veteran Kelly Moore was very hopeful of his chances for a top-10 finish entering Saturday’s 62-lap road course event. However, after two victorious weekends on the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series tour, Moore suffered some bad luck during qualifying and the rain shortened event which relegated the NAPA Auto Parts/Bill Dodge Auto Group to a 31st place finish.

“In the past we’ve had our ups and downs on the road course, it’s unfortunate because I really enjoy the challenge of road racing,” said Moore.

The road course qualifying session employs a European style, placing multiple race cars on the track at one time; each race car separated an equal distance. During Moore’s qualifying run, a competitor in front of him had some difficulty which slowed the Scarborough, ME native just enough to place him outside the top-10 fastest qualifiers.

“Our practice times were a lot more respectable then what we displayed during our qualifying run,” Moore said. “We had some obstacles to battle but starting 14th wasn’t where we wanted to be on Saturday. Track position and strategy are key elements to a good finish here, and you’ve got to stay out of trouble.”

With rain threatening the entire weekend of racing action at Watkins Glen, the race did get underway at the scheduled time and the first of two road course races for the Busch North Series didn’t disappoint the race fans in attendance. Moore focused hard on hitting his marks and staying out of trouble, anticipating a good pit stop would help the Maine Lubrication Services/Shell Rotella T team in the right spot for a top-10 finish.

The yearly visit to Watkins Glen attracts numerous road course experts into the full bodied race cards, some of whom the weekly competitors are not familiar with. This requires all the competitors to be cautious when you’re making moves on the racetrack, more so then you would on a weekly basis since your unsure of what the unknown competitor is apt to do. Moore fell victim to such a move, causing him to spin. The caution flag was displayed on lap 38 after Moore was unable to fire the race car, losing one lap in the process.

“There was contact on the track with someone I’m not used to running with and that cost us a good finish today,” said Moore. “We were running pretty good today, had a good car and just waiting for the right time to pit and bring home a good finish, unfortunately, we ran into some bad luck today.”

There was no opportunity for Moore to battle back as the race was called after 41 laps due to heavy rain. The 31st place finish moved Moore down one spot to third in the championship standings, 71 point behind current leader Andy Santerre.

The SPEED Channel is scheduled to broadcast the rain shortened event on August 23. The Busch North Series heads back to Western New York next weekend for a 150-lap event at Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, NY.

Race Results

1. (17) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 41, $16,350
2. (12) Rick Bell, Salisbury, Conn., Pontiac, 41, $8,600
3. (11) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Ford, 41, $7,325
4. (9) Joey McCarthy, Randolph, N.J., Chevrolet, 41, $5,825
5. (7) Bill Penfold, Yarmouth, Me., Chevrolet, 41, $4,825
6. (20) Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt., Chevrolet, 41, $4,325
7. (10) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 41, $4,025
8. (2) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., Ford, 41, $3,200
9. (22) Mike Olsen, N. Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 41, $3,425
10. (26) Tommy Beamer, Williamstown, N.J., Chevrolet, 41, $2,500
11. (5) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield, Me., Chevrolet, 41, $3,425
12. (27) Denny Wilson, Washington, Mo., Chevrolet, 41, $2,000
13. (16) Dennis Demers, Shelburne, Vt., Chevrolet, 41, $1,925
14. (19) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 41, $2,450
15. (1) Dale Quarterley, Westfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 41, $3,050
16. (23) George Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., Chevrolet, 41, $1,625
17. (25) J.P. Morgan, Ether, N.C., Chevrolet, 41, $1,550
18. (6) Brad Bennett, Stamford, Conn., Ford, 41, $1,475
19. (34) Mark Durgin, Lynn, Mass., Chevrolet, 41, $2,575
20. (18) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 41, $2,050
21. (31) Troy Williams, Chaffee, N.Y., Chevrolet, 41, $1,400
22. (8) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 41, $2,000
23. (28) Kip Stockwell, Randolph, Vt., Pontiac, 41, $1,975
24. (32) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Cal., Chevrolet, 41, $1,325
25. (30) Carey Heath, Eliot, Me., Chevrolet, 41, $1,925
26. (3) Paul Wolfe, Milford, N.Y., Dodge, 40, $1,900
27. (24) Mike Speakman, Pylesville, Md., Chevrolet, 40, $1,250
28. (29) Doug Krpata, Bethpage, N.Y., Chevrolet, 40, $1,225
29. (21) Mike Borkowski, Columbus, Ohio, Chevrolet, 40, $1,200
30. (33) Barney McRae, Colchester, Vt., Chevrolet, 40, $1,825
31. (14) Kelly Moore, Scarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 40, $1,825
32. (15) Anthony Demonte, Commack, N.Y., Chevrolet, 34, $1,200
33. (35) Laine Chase, Beverly, Mass., Chevrolet, 31, Oil line, $1,825
34. (13) Greg Schaefer, Hatboro, Pa., Chevrolet, 31, Transmission, $1,825
35. (4) Ryan Moore, Scarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 18, Running, $1,825

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 46 minutes, 44 seconds AVERAGE SPEED: 56.468 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: Under caution due to rain
CAUTION PERIODS: 6 for 24 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 1 between 2 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Dale Quarterley 1-31, Ted Christopher 32-41
BUD POLE AWARD: Dale Quarterley, Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet (74.873 seconds @117.799 mph)
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Ted Christopher, Mystique Motorsports Chevrolet
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE-OF-THE-RACE AWARD: Mark Durgin, Willow Laboratories Chevrolet
CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE: Ralph Solhem (owner), Mystique Motorsports Chevrolet

UNOFFICIAL BUSCH NORTH SERIES POINT STANDINGS (wins)

1. Andy Santerre (3) 1662
2. Mike Stefanik 1612
3. Kelly Moore (2) 1591
4. Mike Johnson 1528
5. Ryan Moore 1526
6. Dale Quarterley 1523
7. Brian Hoar 1504
8. Eddie MacDonald 1476
9. Mike Olsen 1474
10.Joey McCarthy (1) 1472

UNOFFICIAL RAYBESTOS ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR POINTS

1. Ryan Moore 104
2. Mark Durgin 83
3. Laine Chase 75

For Additional Information, contact John Maine at 301.893.8658 or jmaine@mooreracing.com
Visit Kelly Moore on the Internet at www.mooreracing.com

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