DAVE DION ADDS TO LEGEND, WINS FISHER SNOWPLOWS 150 IN BUSCH NORTH SERIES RETURN TO OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY; SANTERRE EXTENDS POINT LEAD TO 28 : Raceway Media

OXFORD, Maine – Time stood still Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway as the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series returned to its birthplace for the first time in 14 years. Dave Dion, the 61-year-old legend of New England stock car racing, broke a winless streak of nearly four years by dominating the Fisher Snowplows 150. He led all but seven laps to record his 13th career Busch North victory, which came less than three weeks after one of his lowest points in 42 years of racing, a crash at Stafford Motor Speedway which nearly destroyed his favorite race car. Yet that same car, rebuilt once again by his family team, carried him to Saturday’s win, just as it had done at Oxford 14 seasons ago.

The enormously popular win marked the first time a Ford has visited Busch North Series victory lane in 2005.

Ryan Moore, who briefly took the lead from Dion on a lap 62 restart but was soon repassed, came home second , 0.405 seconds behind the winner. Matt Kobyluck was third, Brian Hoar fourth, and series point leader Andy Santerre fifth. Mike Olsen, Bryon Chew, Mike Stefanik, Kip Stockwell, and Dale Shaw completed the top ten.

Dion averaged 57.495 miles per hour through five caution periods for 48 laps, which included a red flag at lap 92 to clean up fluid spilled in an accident that eliminated Jeff Anton and Eddie MacDonald and removed Kelly Moore, Bill Penfold, and Busch Pole winner Mike Johnson from contention. Johnson had led the first five laps, but settled for 12th at the finish with K. Moore 14th and Penfold 15th. Of the 24 starters, 19 were running at the finish and 14 were on the lead lap.

Kip Stockwell earned the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award for advancing nine places from start to finish, and Brian Hoar picked up the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award for improving 19 positions from last week’s race at Radford, Va.

Santerre boosted his point lead over teammate Stefanik from 13 to 28. Kobyluck is 39 points behind the leader and Moore is 68 back. The Busch North Series takes a two week break before returning to action in the Sylvania 125 at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.on Friday, September 16.

Fisher Snow Plows 150
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine, Saturday, August 27, 2005

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

1. (3) Dave Dion, Hudson N.H., Ford, 150, $8,595
2. (7) Ryan Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $3,995
3. (5) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,295
4. (2) Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge, 150, $3,095
5. (12) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $2,895
6. (8) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $1,945
7. (11) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,845
8. (13) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $1,745
9. (18) Kip Stockwell, Braintree Vt., Chevrolet, 150, $2,720
10. (9) Dale Shaw, Center Conway N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $1,695
11. (20) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Pontiac, 150, $1,670
12. (1) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 150, $2,645
13. (15) Anthony Demonte, Commack N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,020
14. (4) Kelly Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $1,000
15. (10) Bill Penfold, Yarmouth Maine, Pontiac, 149, $925
16. (19) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet, 149, $1,495
17. (6) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet, 149, $1,445
18. (14) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor N.H., Chevrolet, 148, $1,420
19. (16) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet, 144, $1,395
20. (21) Laine Chase, Beverly Mass., Chevrolet, 141, Parked, $1,395
21. (24) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet, 92, Accident, $1,395
22. (17) Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Pontiac, 88, Accident, $1,395
23. (23) Rob Humphreys, Elbridge N.Y., Chevrolet, 7, Oil Line, $1,395
24. (22) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 3, Rear End, $1,395

TIME OF RACE: 59 minutes, 29 seconds AVERAGE SPEED: 57.495 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.405 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 5 for 48 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 3 among 3 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Mike Johnson 1-5, Dave Dion 6-61, Ryan Moore 62-63, Dion 64-150
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Mike Johnson, Johnson Lumber Ford (15.584 seconds @ 86.627 mph)
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Kip Stockwell, Sabil & Sons Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Brian Hoar, Goss Dodge

UNOFFICIAL BUSCH NORTH SERIES STANDINGS (wins)
1. Andy Santerre (1) 1473
2. Mike Stefanik (2) 1445
3. Matt Kobyluck 1434
4. Ryan Moore (2) 1405
5. Mike Olsen 1350
6. Brian Hoar 1234
7. Mike Johnson 1227
8. Bryon Chew 1221
9. Eddie MacDonald 1140
10. Sean Caisse 1113
11. Dave Dion (1) 1107
12. Ryan Seaman 1082
13. Kip stockwell 1054
14. Dale Shaw 1010
15. John Salemi 1009

NEXT RACE: Sylvania 125, New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H., Fri., Sept. 16

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