Rain Puts Damper On Team Debut At Lee USA Speedway

Lee, NH (May 15, 2005): Everything at GRIZCO Racing has been leading up to this day: the debut of the first multi-car team on the Busch North Series, Grand National Division. The long hours at the shop, the last minute adjustments, and Saturday afternoon’s practice sessions were all building excitement among a 30-member crew for three of the series top drivers: Andy Santerre, Mike Stefanik, and Brad Leighton. Everybody was ready to go. Everybody, but mother nature, that is.

A heavy rain fell on the track just as the first practice session was kicking off, but it was the threatening thunder storms and additional rain that forced NASCAR officials to put the Whelen 150 on hold for one week. The Busch North Series season opener has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 21st at 8 p.m. It will be the first time the series has run a race under the lights at the 3/8th’s mile oval.

“The first race is always pretty exciting, but to make it a night race is just incredible!” Brad Leighton, driver of the No. 25 Irving Oil Chevrolet said. “I definitely think it’ll make the race worth the wait!”

Team Manager and driver of the No. 44 Castle Packs Power Chevrolet reiterated that statement by saying, “The Busch North Series IS Saturday night racing. New England fans have had a rough four weeks with the weather, so I think it’s great that the officials at NASCAR and Lee USA Speedway are trying to give their loyal fans an added value to their ticket. Putting 32 cars underneath the lights on a short track like this will definitely achieve that goal!”

Mike Stefanik, driver of the No. 55 Burnham Boilers Chevrolet, was mildly disappointed that the race would have to wait a week after a successful Saturday afternoon practice session. Stefanik was the fastest of the three cars that day and used only one word to describe how it felt: “fast”.

Each driver will vie for the coveted season opening win next week with gates opening at noon and on-track action beginning at 4 p.m. The green flag will fall on the Busch North Series season at 8 p.m.