Joey Logano # 20 clinching his first NASCAR BUSCH East Championship
with Mike Helton presenting the trophy
Sean Caisse # 44 wins the Sunoco 150 at Dover September 21, 2007
Young Drivers Have To Set Goals To Make It To The Top; Notes On Sunoco 150 BUSCH East Series Top Five Drivers
By Bonnie Nibblett
Dover, DE…..October 15, 2007…..Even though the Dover NASCAR weekend has come and gone, it still leaves an excitement in the air for fans for many weeks to come. The stands were a sea of colors as fans displayed their favorite driver’s gear; it’s truly amazing to capture that view.
Before drivers can really get to drive in the NASCAR Nextel Series, they have to start racing at stock car tracks sometime or another in their life to gain experience. Once you get your feet wet in racing and like it, where should racers turn next to broaden their career?
With all the competition in the circuits now, technology, and the cost, many have to figure what’s best for them; regarding setting a goal. A goal needs to be set in order to work toward the Nextel cup or their expectations in racing they have for their selves. Sure it’s always in the back of an every drivers mind to make the cup. A perfect dream would consist of all the opportunities coming together at one time? That’s, the mighty dollar for one, pure luck or karma does exist, the talent to drive would be very helpful, and maybe a sponsor that wants to come on board, or even getting noticed by someone that may point you in the right direction. Since that’s a dream to come to, you may have to work a bit harder than that to get to the top and race in the cup.
Today, racing has become a big commodity for a career choice with vast opportunities in several different fields. For drivers, various sponsored driver developments have evolved in the latter years. Which has become a chance to obtain that goal for some to actually reach? There’s quite a few programs offered, some of mention RCR (Richard Childress Racing), GM Racing development driver, Joe Gibbs Racing and so on.
September 21-23, 2007, the Monster Mile hosted three race features and Dover was the second track to kick off the chase for the NASCAR Nextel Series Championship. It’s a very busy weekend, full of race activities for everyone. The first race of the weekend was on Friday with the Sunoco 150 BUSCH East Series. Here’s just a few tidbit & notes of the Sunoco 150 of the top five drivers:
The BUSCH East Series supports racing development driver programs. The Sunoco 150 celebrated two history making events for two different drivers at the end of the race. One was the feature winner, Sean Caisse, and the second milestone was the BUSCH East Series Championship, plus the youngest Rookie of the Year for Joey Logano. The top five drivers all made an impression as to look forward to watch these drivers and what will come to be from them.
Sean Caisse, 21, Pelham, NH, in the no. 44 Casella Waste System won the feature with a late charge lap and only 8 laps to go. In 1996, at ten years old, Caisse started in go-karts and has been racing ever since. From the first time he put a helmet on his head; he fell in love with racing and knew that was what he wanted to do. Caisse finished second in NASCAR Busch East Series points; repeating as did in 2006, along with 4 victories during the season and the most poles for 2007 (5 – poles with 4 setting track records).
At the same time, Joey Logano, 18, Middletown, CT, was sporting the no. 20 of Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet. He became the first rookie champion to win a championship, and the youngest too, in many years. Logano claimed five wins this season in the BUSCH East series and one win in the Grand National West Series. Logano only needed to start the Sunoco 150 to claim the championship; but he finished the feature second. Mark Martin also became familiar with Logano’s resume’ and the many more records this boy has recorded though out his short career. In 2005, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) signed Logano with a long term contract. Logano will move to the NASCAR BUSCH Series for 2008. Logano started racing go-karts at the age of five.
Another young driver setting his own records would be Jeffrey Earnhardt, son of Kerry & Renee’ Earnhardt, and grandson of the late legend Dale Earnhardt. Jeffrey, 18 years old, pilots the red no. 1 Bass Pro Shop / Tracker Boats Chevrolet in the GM - development driving program. In the Sunoco 150 Jeffrey earned the pole and finished third in the feature; his best of the season.
Jeffrey’s mother, Renee’ says “Jeffrey has not been racing long; just about four years. He started in Hobby Stock and did very good, with Rookie of the Year. He then moved into the Late Model the next year and just did really well there too.” Are there any more in your family that will be racing in the future? Renee’ added, “We have another younger son and two daughters so we will just have to wait and see.” “He (Jeffrey) really likes it and we are very excited and hopeful he will succeed.” In the start of the 2007 season, Jeffrey sign with Andy Santerre’s sponsored driver development racing program.
Jesus Hernandez, 23, wheels the no. 14 Waste Management late model stock car. In October he earned an opportunity to Drive for Diversity combined at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. Hernandez missed the cut, and Gibbs selected Chris Bristol and Aric Almirola as his drivers in the development driver program. That didn’t stop Hernandez. He learned about the option for Drive for Diversity he went for it. He finished fourth in the Sunoco 150.
Another driver worth mention would be Tim McCreadie, 33, Watertown, NY, No. 31 Camping World/RVbank.com Chevrolet. McCreadie has a long list of wins and championships to include the 2006 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship. Although McCreadie's more mature, don’t let that stop you from watching this man start his career in NASCAR. This year at the start of the season he joined the Richard Childress Racing Development Driver program, turning to racing in the BUSCH East, West Series, NASCAR BUSCH and ARCA Series. McCreadie is an excellent dirt modified and late model driver, he finished fifth in the Sunoco 150. McCreadie has been pretty impressive his first year.
All racers start somewhere; it is an everlasting world of the new drivers taking over for the older as drivers retire. These five ambitious guys will be part of setting more history records in racing to beat. This will be fun to watch. See you at the track!
Joey Logano # 20 doing donuts after clinching his first NASCAR BUSCH East Championship