BNS: Loudon II: Paul Wolfe race notes

Paul Wolfe Ties Career High With Second Place Finish at NHIS

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 20, 2004, noon) - At a time when many people were on their second cup of morning coffee, Paul Wolfe and the rest of the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series competitors were on the racetrack at New Hampshire International Speedway.

The Sylvania 125, originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18, was rescheduled for Monday morning at 10 a.m. due to weekend rain. Wolfe qualified fourth and started third at the 1.058-mile oval.

The 27-year-old Central New York native ended up in second place to tie his Busch North Series career high. He now has five consecutive top-10s in the series and six in his career at NHIS. In his last two NHIS Busch North Series races, Wolfe has led 54 percent of the overall laps (134 of 250). He now has three career second place finishes (Nazareth 2001, Dover 2002, New Hampshire 2004).

"We had a great run today," Wolfe said. "We were able to lead the race for a while (38 laps) and came close to putting the Racing for a Cure program in Victory Lane."

Through events centered around three Busch North Series races in 2004 (Holland, Watkins Glen and New Hampshire), the Racing for a Cure program raised thousands of dollars for cancer research at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. The program was made possible by sponsors the Salhen Packing Company, Wegmans Food Markets and the West Herr Automotive Group.

Wolfe grabbed the lead on lap 4 and took it again for a 30-lap stretch from laps 16-45. After pitting to free up his car, he worked his way back to second and finished 1.138 seconds behind race winner and defending series champion Andy Santerre.

Five cautions in the race lasted 41-laps. Those cautions destroyed the tempo of the race and kept Wolfe and other cars from seriously challenging Santerre, who took the lead on lap 107.

"There were three or four cars that could have won the race today," Wolfe said. "We were waiting for that long run late in the race, but it never came. If there had been more long runs, the outcome could have been totally different."

The remaining top five finishers were Ryan Moore, Dale Quarterley and Mike Gallo.

Wolfe and the team will only have a couple days to prepare for their next race at Dover International Speedway for the MBNA America 150 on Friday, Sept. 24.