BNS: Loudon Race Story

Moore wins Gumout 100 from Bud Pole

LOUDON, N.H. - Kelly Moore of Scarborough, Me., showed his hand early, but played a waiting game to capture his first win since 1995 on the Busch North Series, a NASCAR Touring Division, in Saturday's Gumout Long Life Formula 100, which was a part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Moore set the fast time during Bud Pole Award Qualifying on Friday to start on the pole, but he relinquished the lead to defending series champion Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I., on the start. Stefanik set the pace for the next 17 laps before Moore flexed his mechanical muscles on Lap 18.

A hard-charging Brad Leighton came up and passed Moore for the lead on lap 38, but Moore sat tight until he could close up and wrestle the lead back from Leighton on lap 70.

Meanwhile Tom Carey of Orange, Mass., the driver to whom Moore finished second at Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., a week ago, was blasting his way up to the head of the pack. The sophomore driver closed in on Moore, and was riding his bumper with a mere five laps remaining.

With lapped cars dead ahead, Moore took the two-to-go signal from starter Billy Ryder, and headed into the first turn with Carey in tow. The lead duo had the crowd on its feet for the last two laps as they dealt with lapped traffic.

Moore was able to hold off Carey for the win as they came down the front stretch for the checkered flag, with Carey second and Leighton in third. Defending race champion Dale Shaw of Center Conway, N.H., who made his first Busch North Series start since he went South to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series in the latter part of 1997, took fourth in a brand new car while Jerry Marquis rounded out the top-five.

Finishing sixth through 10th in the 42-car field were Jeff Barry, Jamie Aube, Billy Penfold, Bobby Dragon and GeGe Gravel.

Source: NASCAR Online