|
Moffitt Gets His First Camping World East Series Win – Keeps
Breaking Records
GRIMES, IA (June 1) - Brett Moffitt, the sixteen – year old high school
sophomore from Grimes, Iowa, has put his name in the NASCAR record books for
the second time in only four races, competing as a rookie in the Camping
World East Series. Moffitt put himself in the NASCAR record book first on
April 11th, when he sat on the pole for the first NCWSE 2009 event, held at
the Greenville – Pickens Speedway, Greenville, SC. It was Moffitt’s first
ever NCWSE race, and the rookie became the youngest driver in NASCAR’s
history to sit on the pole, eclipsing a record established by Joey Logano
nearly three years earlier. At the South Boston Speedway, South Boston, VA,
in his fourth NCWSE start, wheeling the #44 Andy Santerre Motorsports
Chevrolet, Brett Moffitt won his first race of the 2009 season, the South
Boston 150, and he again surpassed a mark set by Logano some three years ago
by becoming the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win, at the tender age
of sixteen. Moffitt won’t turn 17 until August 7th, while Logano was only
one month and five days short of seventeen when he won his first NCWS event.
Moffitt’s weekend was good, right out of the box. It was apparent during the
first practice session that car owner Andy Santerre and crew had unloaded a
rocket. Moffitt would lead the twenty-three car field with the fastest
practice time of 16.110, an average speed of 89.385 mph. Off the pace just a
tick, Moffitt’s second practice session fast time was a 16.206, 88.856 mph.
Moffitt, who has done an outstanding job of qualifying during his previous
three events, laid down another great lap, timing in at 16.178, an average
speed of 89.010 mph. Hoping to have his second Coors Light Pole Award,
Moffitt’s time would come up two-one thousandths of a second short, as Ryan
Truex turned the fastest qualifying lap at 16.176 (89.021 mph).
From the drop of the green, Moffitt demonstrated his skill, composure, and
his trademark demeanor that well exceeds his age. From his outside row one
starting position, Moffitt would jump to the lead, on the start. Truex
battled back down the back stretch as he and Moffitt raced side-by-side.
Mindful of the old saying, “To finish first, you first must finish,” the
young Moffitt settled into second place, content to save his tires and his
car. Keeping the leader in sight, Moffitt maintained his position. After a
lap 40 yellow, on the lap 45 restart, Moffitt took advantage of a slow
restart by Truex, passing Truex while racing down the back stretch to regain
the lead on lap 46. With Moffitt in the lead, lap 54 would produce the
second yellow of the day. On the lap 59 restart, Truex would gain the
advantage, slipping by Moffitt on the backstretch. Yellow flags flew again
on laps 68 and 80. On the lap 75 restart, Truex got the jump, with Moffitt
falling in line; however, on the lap 84 restart, it was Moffitt leading
Truex by a nose at the line. Moffitt continued to lead, when on lap 100, the
fifth and final yellow of the day bunched the leaders up again. On the lap
105 restart, Truex and Moffitt continued their battle with Truex getting the
edge, but for only one lap. On lap 106, Moffitt jumped back into the lead,
and with caution-free racing to the finish, Brett Moffitt never looked back.
Passing lap cars when he got to them, Moffitt maintained a sizeable lead,
and at the end of 150 laps of racing, Moffitt had bagged his first NASCAR
Camping World East Series victory.
Commenting after cutting donuts on the front stretch and a victory lane
ceremony, Moffitt said, “This is just awesome. I don’t even know how to
describe it. We’ve been strong all season but to get a win under our belt
just feels awesome. We could not have had a more perfect night.” A proud car
owner Andy Santerre added, “You just never know about this place. I was kind
of up in the air about what adjustments to make, so I just got the car as
balanced as I could. Brett did the rest. I can’t say enough about this young
man; he’s a heck of a talent.”
Moffitt led a race-high of 81 laps. There were three lead changes, all
between Moffitt and Truex, and Moffitt never dropped below the second spot
at any point during the race. For his win, Moffitt received the Camping
World Happy Camper Award, the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award, and the Wix
Filters Lap Leader Award. Moffitt also moved into second place in the driver
standings, only 26 points behind point leader Jody Lavender.
Next up for the Camping World East Series competitors is the first of two
road course events on the 2009 schedule. It will be Moffitt’s first time
ever to compete on a road course, when the series visits Watkins Glen
International – Watkins Glen, NY, on Saturday June 6th.
For more information and to follow the career of Bret Moffitt, log onto his
website at: www.brettmoffitt.com
and the Andy Santerre Motorsports site at:
www.andysanterremotorsports.com
 |
