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Caisse saves best for last, posts victory in Minn. 150

By Jason Christley, Special to NASCAR.COM
May 19, 2007
08:43 AM EDT
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ELKO, Minn. -- Just 21 years old, Sean Caisse is reluctant to admit he's a veteran.

But in his third season in the NASCAR Busch East Series, and with an influx of teenagers joining the ranks, Caisse has begun to show the patience and poise that he hopes will carry him to the championship.

Friday night was a prime example, as Caisse had enough left in his car and tires to pull away from the rest of the Grand National Division field on a green-white-checkered finish and win the historic Minnesota 150 at Elko Speedway.

"Our car was really good on long runs. The restarts were really tough on the bottom, but it worked out for us."

-- Sean Caisse

"I actually saved my stuff for the first time in a while," Caisse said.

The race marked the first time that the West Series and Busch East Series ran in the same event with points on the line.

The win earned Caisse a spot in the postseason Toyota All-Star Showdown in October. Prior to Friday's race, the two Grand National series had only met in that annual non-points event.

While rookies dominated qualifying, taking seven of the top 10 spots, it was the veterans who ended up front in the end. Longtime Busch East driver Bryon Chew and West Series points leader Mike David finished second and third respectively. Chew started 23rd and David started 18th.

"I tried to avoid the accidents and put myself in position to win," Chew said. "I felt I got myself in position on that last lap, but Sean restarted a little better."

Caisse started on the pole Friday and after swapping the lead several times with Mike Olsen, led the final 52 laps. He weathered three cautions in the final third of the race, which went 156 laps because of the final yellow flag.

"Our car was really good on long runs," Caisse said. "The restarts were really tough on the bottom, but it worked out for us."

Rogelio Lopez was the highest finishing rookie in fourth and Olsen ended up fifth.

Peyton Sellers recovered from a mid-race spin to finish sixth, while Jesus Hernandez, Justin Lofton, Eric Hardin, and Michelle Theriault rounded out the top 10.

David and Lofton were the only West Series drivers in the top 10, as the Busch East took 12 of the top 14 spots. Drivers received points, though, based on their finish in relation to the other drivers in their series.

Joey Logano, who won the first two Grand National events he ran in, was involved in a Lap 144 spin with West Series driver Brian Ickler while battling for second. The caution caused the green-white-checkered finish. Logano finished 19th and Ickler, who had qualified second, ended up 20th.

Forty-six cars attempted to qualify for the 30-car field. The Grand National Division will run a combination race again Sunday, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

Also: Caisse claims pole for Minnesota 150
Also: Kobyluck looks for reversal of fortunes
Also: Grand National gears up for East-West clashes

Minnesota 150 Results

At Elko (Minn.) Speedway
Finish Start Name Hometown Make Laps Winnings
1 1 Sean Caisse Pelham, N.H. Chevrolet 156 $9,410
2 23 Bryon Chew Mattituck, N.Y. Chevrolet 156 $4,860
3 18 Mike David Modesto, Calif. Ford 156 $3,960
4 12 Rogelio Lopez Mexico City, Mexico Chevrolet 156 $2,446
5 5 Mike Olsen North Haverhill, N.H. Chevrolet 156 $2,860
6 11 Peyton Sellers Danville, Va. Chevrolet 156 $1,600
7 10 Jesus Hernandez Fresno, Calif. Chevrolet 156 $1,775
8 16 Justin Lofton Westmorland, Calif. Ford 156 $1,503
9 30 Eric Hardin Anahiem, Calif. Chevrolet 156 $2,403
10 19 Michelle Theriault Bristol, Conn. Chevrolet 156 $1,175
11 9 Jamie Hayes Norlina, N.C. Chevrolet 156 $1,100
12 17 Matt Kobyluck Uncasville, Conn. Chevrolet 156 $1,985
13 14 Eric Holmes Escalon, Calif. Chevrolet 156 $1,050
14 29 Jeff Anton Russell, Mass. Chevrolet 156 $1,435
15 24 Mike Duncan Bakersfield, Calif. Chevrolet 156 $1,360
16 15 Jason Bowles Ontario, Calif. Ford 156 $1,286
17 7 Tim Schendel Sparta, Wis. Dodge 156 $800
18 26 Tim Woods III Chino Hills, Calif. Ford 156 $928
19 4 Joey Logano Middletown, Conn. Chevrolet 156 $800
20 2 Brian Ickler San Diego, Calif. Chevrolet 156 $2,710
21 27 Ruben Pardo Mexico City, Mexico Dodge 155 $928
22 25 Jonathan Smith Beacon Falls, Conn. Chevrolet 155 $1,082
23 28 Johnny Borneman Ramona, Calif. Ford 154 $1,210
24 3 Jeffrey Earnhardt Mooresville, N.C. Chevrolet 145 $1,082
25 8 Marc Davis Mitchelville, Md. Chevrolet 144 $800
26 22 Alex Haase Las Vegas, Nev. Chevrolet 108 $1,210
27 20 Brett Thompson Jerome, Idaho Chevrolet 67 $1,210
28 13 Moses Smith Tempe, Ariz. Chevrolet 50 $928
29 21 Andrew Myers Newport Beach, Calif. Chevrolet 50 $1,210
30 6 Richard Jarvis Jr. Ocean City, Md. Chevrolet 37 $800
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 11 minutes 26 seconds
Margin of Victory: .305 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: S.Caisse 95.440 mph, 14.145 seconds
Caution Flags: 9 for 72 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S.Caisse 1-28; M.Olsen 29-41; S.Caisse 42-72; M.Olsen 73-103; S.Caisse 104-156.

The End

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