LOUDON, N.H. – Ryan Moore’s NASCAR Busch Series debut had its ups and down Saturday, and the final result certainly does not indicate how well he ran.
The Scarborough native qualified 19th for the New England 200, then ran as high as seventh in the running order before contact with another car on lap 164 prematurely ended his day.
Moore looked smooth in his first outing with the framed D.E.I. team, running solidly in the top 16 for the first 100 circuits.
“I tried hard to keep my nose clean all day, and thought we were headed for a top-15 finish,” he said. “To run like we did in our first race together is an indication of just how solid this team is. I have to thank the people from Oreo, Ritz and of course, DEI for the opportunity. I wish I could have brought them a better finish, but I think we have some good days ahead.”
Moore wound up 34th in the final rundown.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series regular Kevin Harvick had the dominant car the first 100 laps, then Virginia native Denny Hamlin took control in his first-ever start at the Magic Mile.
The race featured two red flag sessions and a whopping 13 cautions overall. Former Busch North Series standout Martin Truex Jr. made his move late in the race, taking the lead from Hamlin on lap 189 and cruising to his fifth victory of the 2005 season. Nextel Cup Series rookie sensation Carl Edwards came from 21st on the grid to finish second, while Hamlin finished a career-best third after leading. Elliott Sadler and Jamie McMurray completed the top five. A sun-baked crowd estimated at 42,000 watched as Truex Jr. drove to victory.
Streak remains intact
The amazing streak of different winners now stands at 19 here at NHIS. Call it unique, call it slick, call it what you want, but the sometimes fickle racing surface has produced yet another Busch Series winner. 2004 race winner Matt Kenseth was the highest finisher among previous winners in ninth place.
Every driver in the field agrees, New Hampshire International is a difficult place to run consistently.
New car for Ford
Perhaps the biggest buzz in the Media Center this weekend is the one created last Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., when officials from Ford unveiled the 2006 Fusion race car.
This marks the first all-new race entry for the Detroit auto maker since the Grand Torino was released in 1968.
Ford is working hard at giving Chevrolet a better run in the all-important manufacturers battle, and they’re putting a great deal of faith in the new Fusion. Will it be a better race car?
Only time will tell. One thing is certain; Ford fans will have reason for enthusiasm in 2006. The car will make its debut in the 2006 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway in February.
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