By Phil Whipple,Staff Writer

LOUDON, N.H. – Ted Christopher took the lead from Brad Leighton on Lap 105 and hung on to win the rain-shortened Sylvania 125 NASCAR Busch North Series race Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway.

The race was called official after 119 laps when a steady rain began to fall on the speedway.

Christopher, of Plainville, Ct., a standout on the Whelen Modified Tour, collected $14,500 for winning his 10th career Busch North Series race.

Leighton, an eight-time winner at NHIS, claimed second while Scarborough’s Ryan Moore finished third. Moore battled side-by-side with Christopher in the mid-stages of the event, took over the lead at lap 32 and stayed there until caution waved on the 50th circuit. Brian Hoar and Andy Santerre completed the top five. Finishing sixth through 10th was Mike Stefanik, Tracy Gordon, Joey McCarthy, Ryan Seaman and Kelly Moore. Nine cautions slowed the event, while 23 of the 37 starters finished on the lead lap.

“I knew we had a good enough car to drive by Brad,” said Leighton in Victory Lane. “He had a fast car, too, but I felt like we were faster through the corners. Any time you can win here at New Hampshire it feels great, even if we didn’t make it the entire distance. We’re having a strong season in the Mods, so I’m going to go try to make it a double a little later.”

Christopher quickly headed off to the Mod tour garage to prepare for the Sylvania 100 to be held following the final practice for NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams.

Leighton wasn’t happy with the final results, but seemed pleased overall with his performance. “I thought at one point we had this one,” Leighton said. “The guys have worked real hard to get us to this point, to come from 23rd on the grid and lead like we did shows the progress we’ve made. I sure didn’t want all those cautions there late in the race, but you take what you get and do the best job you can. We’ll take a second place run for Irving and Grizco and be pleased.”

Moore was upset with Christopher’s aggressive driving style and openly critical following the race.

“I don’t know why Teddy has to race like that. He doesn’t run for points in this series, yet he goes out and knocks people out of the way to try and win. It affects a lot of us that are, and I wish he’d consider that. I really wanted to win here, but tried to do it in a clean way and that didn’t work today.”

Stefanik led the first 25 circuits until Eddie MacDonald drove by in a power move on the backstretch. MacDonald’s time on the point was short-lived, however, as Moore took command just six laps later and began to pull away. A series of cautions, most of which involved spins in a tricky Turn 3, scrambled the running order and sent some of the leaders to pit road. Point leader Santerre chose to stay out when the front-runners pitted for fresh Goodyear tires during a caution at lap 50. Track position has always been paramount here at New Hampshire, and the moved paid dividends for Santerre in the long run. His top-five finish puts him in a good position to capture a fourth-straight title with just three races remaining.