Kobyluck Stays On Course For Win At Lime Rock In Mohegan Sun 200
Lakeville, CT — Mohegan Sun Chevrolet driver Matt Kobyluck of Uncasville, Conn., muscled his way to a spectacular victory in the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park, the NASCAR Busch East Series’ only road course race of the season Saturday afternoon.
The 82-lap, 125.46-mile event was a short-track style affair was action packed with five full course cautions and intermittent “local” caution periods.
Kobyluck led 46 of the event’s 82 laps on the 1.53-mile road course including the final five. But in a fireworks finish, Kobyluck and second place running Mike Olsen hit a patch of oil and slid off track in turn seven – the last turn of the last lap. Kobyluck manhandled his car back on course to retain the lead and post a .258-second margin of victory over Sean Caisse (No. 44 Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet). Jeff Anton (No. 30 Baran Institute/Engineered Floors Chevrolet) placed a career-high third, followed by Jesus Hernandez (No. 4 Allstate Insurance/Ginn Resorts Chevrolet), and Jeffrey Earnhardt (No. 1 Menard’s/Pittsburgh Paints Chevrolet). Olsen, in second place entering the turn, recovered to finish ninth.
“When we hit the oil, I thought my day was done,” Kobyluck said. “There was no way around it and we were carrying so much speed, we were going to slide no matter what we did. I got off course, and somehow saved it from spinning out. My elbow hit the kill-switch, killed he ignition, and all I hear on he radio is my crew chief saying ‘go-go-go-go-go.’ Finally I got it going, grabbed a gear, and took off.”
Completing the top-10 were James Buescher, the event’s defending champion Ruben Pardo, Peyton Sellers, Olsen, and Larry Moloney.
Point leader Joey Logano spun and struck a safety tire carrier on lap 43. After repairs were made, he returned to the event to finish 23rd, eight laps down. Logano arrived at Lime Rock with a 188-point lead over Kobyluck. Kobyluck’s win sliced the point margin almost in half, with Logano departing with a 92-point lead.
The series now moves to Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park for an inaugural twin-bill of 150 lap events with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series Saturday, August. 25.
NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series-Mohegan Sun NASCAR Busch East 200 Results
Saturday At Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, CT
Lap length: 1.53 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 82 laps, 62.007 mph, $12,100.
2. (6) Sean Caisse, Pelham, N.H., Chevrolet, 82, $6,400.
3. (14) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 82, $6,400.
4. (21) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Chevrolet, 82, $5,600.
5. (16) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 82, $4,000.
6. (7) James Buescher, Plano, Tex., Chevrolet, 82, $3,000.
7. (2) Ruben Pardo, Mexico City, Mex., Dodge, 82, $2,575.
8. (15) Peyton Sellers, Danville, Va., Ford, 82, $2,325.
9. (3) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 82, $2,900.
10. (20) Larry Moloney, Wayland, Mass., Ford, 82, $1,625.
11. (12) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Dodge, 82, $2,100.
12. (18) Jamie Hayes, Norlina, N.C., Chevrolet, 82, $2,025.
13. (22) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 82, $2,000.
14. (26) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 82, $1,950.
15. (13) Chase Austin, Eudora, Kan., Dodge, 82, $1,900.
16. (8) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 82, $1,875.
17. (4) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 81, $1,850.
18. (23) Michelle Theriault, Bristol, Conn., Chevrolet, 81, $1,825.
19. (29) Jason Cochran, Marion, N.C., Chevrolet, 80, $1,300.
20. (27) Dion Ciccarelli, Severn, Md., Chevrolet, 76, $1,800.
21. (5) Max Dumarey, Gent, Belgium, Chevrolet, 76, $1,800.
22. (10) Rogelio Lopez, Aquascalientes, Mexico, Chevrolet, 75, $1,800.
23. (9) Joey Logano, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 74, $1,800.
24. (19) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 68, engine, $1,800.
25. (17) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, Md., Chevrolet, 52, accident, $1,800.
26. (28) Scott Bouley, Wolcott, Conn., Chevrolet, 42, $1,800.
27. (24) James Pritchard, Jr., Wharton, NJ, Chevrolet, 41, engine, $1,800.
28. (25) Jeffrey Oakley, Prince George, VA, Chevrolet, 40, transmission, $1,300.
29. (11) German Quiroga, Mexico City, Mex., Chevrolet, 2, engine, $1,800.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 2 hours 1 minute 24 seconds
Margin of Victory: .258 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: M.Kobyluck (102.263 mph, 53.861 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 40 laps.
Lead Changes: 7 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M.Kobyluck 1-18; R.Pardo 19-25; P.Sellers 26; M.Dumarey 27-34; M.Kobyluck 35-58; S.Caisse 59-60; M.Olsen 61-77; M.Kobyluck 78-82.
Standings: 1. J.Logano, 1107; 2. M.Kobyluck, 1099; 3. S.Caisse, 1030; 4. P.Sellers, 1028; 5. M.Olsen, 953; 6. M.Davis, 952; 7. B.Chew, 949; 8. R.Lopez, 916; 9. J.Anton, 911; 10. J.Earnhardt, 910.
Sources: NASCAR PR