Quarterley Wins MBNA America 150 At Dover, Andy Santerre Clinches 3rd Busch North Title : Raceway Media

DOVER, Del. – Dale Quarterley put his Dover International Speedway failures of the past in the rear view mirror by winning Friday’s MBNA America 150 as Andy Santerre locked up his third straight NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series title by finishing fifth.

Quarterley dominated the 2001 running of this event, only to run short of fuel and settle for sixth. In 2002, he regained two lost laps but never got the caution flag he needed to contend for the win. The Dover triumph marked vidication for the former motorcycle racer, as well as his second win of 2004 and the sixth of his career.

Quarterley took the lead from the day’s dominant leader, Paul Wolfe, with 29 of the scheduled 150 laps to run, and survived a pair of late caution flags which extended the actual distance to 160 laps around the “Monster Mile” to defeat Wolfe by 0.889 seconds. Eddie MacDonald took advantage of the late-race shuffling to emerge third, while Mike Stefanik survived a last-lap crash to take fourth ahead of Santerre. Sixth place Mike Gallo was the last driver on the lead lap. Jamie Aube, Tracy Gordon, Mike Olsen, and Ryan Seaman were seventh through tenth, one laps down. Only 14 of the 28 starters saw the checkered flag. Quarterley won $13,000 and averaged 97.959 miles per hour.

Santerre almost joined the list of non-finishers on a lap 151 restart when Ryan Moore failed to come up to speed, involving Santerre and Kelly Moore in a front-straight melee. Both Moores were out, but Santerre suffered only cosmetic damage and lost one spot. By finishing ahead of Olsen he clinched the title with one race to go, joining Jamie Aube (1988-1990) as a three-time Busch North Series champion.

A series of accidents sent Joey McCarthy, Don Wagner, Bill Penfold, Bryon Chew, and Brad Leighton to the garage as well as Ryan Moore and Kelly Moore, but no injuries were reported.

Tim Andrews won his first career Busch Pole but started at the tail of the field after an engine change. He put on a stirring run through the pack but blew his engine after 96 laps while running in the top five. Ryan Seaman earned the PowerAde Power Move of the Race Award for gaining 12 places from start to finish, while Jamie Aube captured the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award for improving 21 places over last Monday’s race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

The Busch North Series concludes its 2004 season next Saturday night with the Trim Spa 150 at Wall Township Speedway in Wall, N.J.

MBNA America 150
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del., Friday, September 23, 2004

UNOFFICIAL FINISH (finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown, manufacturer, laps completed, reason out if any, money won)

1. (9) Dale Quarterley, Westfield Mass., Chevrolet, 160, $13,000
2. (2) Paul Wolfe, Milford N.Y., Chevrolet, 160, $9,900
3. (7) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Ford, 160, $8,400
4. (12) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 160, $7,300
5. (14) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield ME., Chevrolet, 160, $6,900
6. (8) Mike Gallo, Sanford Me., Ford, 160, $5,300
7. (15) Jamie Aube, Manchester N.H., Chevrolet, 159, $5,600
8. (10) Tracy Gordon, Strong Me., Ford, 159, $4,300
9. (17) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 159, $4,300
10. (22) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet, 159, $4,800
11. (11) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 159, $3,700
12. (16) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 157, $3,600
13. (20) Barney McRae, Colchester VT., Chevrolet, 156, $3,500
14. (5) Ryan Moore, Scarborough ME., Chevrolet, 154, Accident, $3,300
15. (3) Kelly Moore, Scarborough ME., Chevrolet, 152, Accident, $3,200
16. (25) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 152, $3,000
17. (13) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor N.H., Ford, 147, Accident, $2,800
18. (18) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 140, Overheating, $2,700
19. (6) Brian Hoar, Williston VT., Dodge, 139, Engine, $2,650
20. (4) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 130, Accident, $2,575
21. (19) Bill Penfold, Yarmouth ME., Chevrolet, 98, Accident, $2,550
22. (1) Tim Andrews, Concord N.C., Chevrolet, 96, Engine, $2,525
23. (24) John Cerbone, City Island N.Y., Chevrolet, 70, Clutch, $2,500
24. (26) Bobby Dragon, Milton VT., Chevrolet, 29, Engine, $2,475
25. (21) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet, 25, Accident, $2,450
26. (23) Don Wagner, Wharton N.J., Chevrolet, 25, Accident, $2,425
27. (27) Kip Stockwell, Braintree VT., Chevrolet, 5, Handling, $2,400
28. (28) Tommy Beamer, Williamstown N.J., Chevrolet, 0, Engine, $1,875

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 38 minutes
AVERAGE SPEED: 97.959 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.889 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 6 for 36 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 4 among 4 drivers
LAP LEADS: Kelly Moore 1-6, Paul Wolfe 7-84, Brad Leighton 85-93, Wolfe 94-120, Dale Quarterley 121-160
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Tim Anmdrews, Chevrolet (24.372 seconds @ 147.710 mph
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Ryan Seaman, Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jamie Aube, Chevrolet

UNOFFICIAL BUSCH NORTH SERIES POINT STANDINGS (wins)
1. Andy Santerre (5) 2139
2. Mike Olsen 1933
3. Dale Quarterley (3) 1908
4. Kelly Moore (1) 1833
5. Mike Stefanik 1824
6. Ryan Moore 1800
7. Matt Kobyluck (1) 1781
8. Joey McCarthy 1737
9. Mike Johnson (1) 1721
10.Brian Hoar 1696

NEXT RACE: Trim Spa 150, Wall Township Speedway, Wall, N.J., Sat., Oct. 2 (season finale)

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