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Trackside Now: Tri-County 150

Saturday, 4/25/09 - NASCAR Camping World East Series

Tri-County Speedway - Hudson, North Carolina

Saturday - 10:39pm ET - What a night for 17 year-old Matt DiBenedetto as he scores his first career Camping World East Series win just a few miles from his hometown of Hickory, NC. After moving here from California he quickly took to Late Model Stock racing, were he won a race at Bristol last season in the UARA-Stars Series. He told us that tonight's last lap pass victory over Austin Dillon tops that. We'll have much more on the this race next week on Speed51.com.

Matt DiBenedetto

165

Austin Dillon

165

Alan Tardiff *

165

Jody Lavender

165

Patrick Long

165

Trevor Bayne

165

Dakoda Armstrong *

165

Ryan Duff

165

Dustin Delaney

165

Matt Kobyluck

165

Jason Patison

165

Eddie MacDonald

165

Kyle Fowler

165

Alex Kennedy

165

Steve Park

165

Ryan Truex *

165

Ryan Gifford

165

John Salemi

165

Antonio Perez

164

Dominick Casola *

164

Jason Cochran *

164

Jonathan Smith

163

Brett Moffitt *

162

Kristin Bumbera *

162

Matt Kurzejewski *

147

Jarit Johnson *

130

Lap Leaders: A. Tardiff 1-16; M. Kobyluck 17-75; M. DiBenedetto 76-101; A. Dillon 102-113; M. DiBenedetto 114-146; A. Dillon 147; M. DiBenedetto 148-162; A. Dillon 163-164; M. DiBenedetto 165.

Saturday - 9:09pm ET - The second try is better as Austin Dillon got the lead on the white flag lap, but Matt DiBenedetto got it back going into turn one on the final lap. Matt DiBenedetto has won the Tri-County 150! We'll be back in a while to sort this all out!

Saturday - 9:02pm ET - In a two lap sprint the yellow came out on the first lap, as Austin Dillon had the lead in turn three, but the battle was too the line The leader will be Matt DiBenedetto with Austin Dillon, Patrick Long, Alan Tardiff, and Jody Lavender on our second attempt at a green, white, checkered finish.

Saturday - 8:59pm ET - GREEN FLAG lap 147: On the restart Matt DiBenedetto went door to door with Austin Dillon, the two squeezed up off two giving Patrick Long the second spot. The YELLOW came out for a little mess in turn one. We will have a green, white, checkered finish with DiBenedetto, Long, Dillon, Lavender and Tardiff in the top five.

Saturday - 8:55pm ET - YELLOW FLAG LAP 142: Not sure what the casue of the caution was, but we will have a double-file restart with just a handful of laps to go.

Saturday - 8:53pm ET - The top three are not closing in on each other as we hit 10 laps to go. Matt DiBenedetto looks to be on his way to his first career win.

Saturday - 8:50pm ET - With 20 laps to go Matt DiBenedetto has 6 car length lead on Austin Dillon.

Saturday - 8:45pm ET - GREEN FLAG LAP 113: Matt DiBenedetto has regained the top spot after Austin Dillon went into turn three a little to hard on the restart. Patrick Long is up to third.

Saturday - 8:40pm ET - As we go back GREEN the crowd goes wild as the black number 3 of Austin Dillon has taken the top spot away from Matt DiBenedetto.

YELLOW FLAG is out again on lap 108: The 16 on Jonathan Smith has gone around on the backstretch.

Saturday - 8:37pm ET - YELLOW FLAG LAP 95: Eddie MacDonald went around in the first turn. The top 10 at the yellow are Matt DiBenedetto, Austin DIllon, Matt Kobyluck, Trevor Bayne, Jarit Johnson, Dakota Armstrong, Patrick Long, Jody Lavender, Alan Tardiff and John Salemi.

Saturday - 8:33pm ET - Matt DiBenedetto and Austin Dillon have pulled away from the rest of the pack as we close in on the 100 lap mark.

Saturday - 8:29pm ET - Matt DiBenedetto works the low lane to take the top spot away from Matt Kobyluck on lap 76. Austin Dillon is now hounding the back of Kobyluck for second.

Saturday - 8:25pm ET - GREEN FLAG LAP 61: As we thunder back into the first turn Matt Kobyluck gets away clean and Austin Dillon comes up to third place. We see the drivers have quickly discovered that the top groove is the best way around the corners here at Tri-County.

Saturday - 8:20pm ET - After a few laps Matt Kobyluck was able to pull out to a two car length advantage over Matt DiBenedetto. The leaders are working in the high groove. YELLOW on LAP 53. Ryan Gifford spun in turn two and it looks as if Brett Mofitt brushed the wall, he's on pit road.

Kristin Bumbera got the free pass and is now back on the lead lap.

Saturday - 8:15pm ET - GREEN FLAG LAP 35: Once again Matt Kobyluck leads the way. Austin Dillon has moved into the fourth spot as Matt DiBenedetto is now challenging for the lead. He looks to have a slightly better car then Kobyluck, but he can't get around him.

Saturday - 8:13pm ET - At lap 30 the top 5 is Matt Kobyluck, Matt DiBenedetto, Trevor Bayne, Alan Tardiff, and Jody Lavender. The YELLOW came out on lap 31 for a spin by Kyle Fowler in turn four.

The rest of the top 10 include Austin Dillon, Patrick Long, Eddie MacDonald, Jarit Johnson and Dakota Armstrong.

Saturday - 8:08pm ET - Alan Tardiff did not get up to speed on the restart and Matt Kobyluck jumped on the chance and took the lead going into turn one. Trevor Bayne came around and took the second spot as Tardiff has slipped to fourth behind Matt DiBenedetto.

Saturday - 8:05pm ET - We have have gone YELLOW here on lap 13 as Brett Mofitt has gone around in turn two. The 16 on Jonathan Smith will get the free pass. Mofitt did come to pit road to make an adjustment and pull the fenders away from the tires.

Saturday - 8:02pm ET - The 17 of Jason Patison had to go to the rear for unapproved adjustments. GREEN FLAG is out and we are underway. Alan Tardiff leads the opening lap as they work single file back through the top 10 cars.

Matt Kobyluck moved from sixth to third in the first five laps of the race, while the 16 of Jonathan Smith has come to pit road on lap six. Smith did return to the race.

Saturday - 7:54pm ET - Drivers have strapped in ,the engines have fired and we parading around for the pace laps here at Tri-County Speedway.

Saturday - 7:11pm ET - Fans are going onto the track for an autograph session with the drivers. We will return prior to the start of the race at 8pm.

Saturday - 7:09pm ET - The small town of Lyman, Maine is a buzz as Alan Tardiff has won his first ever Camping World East Series Pole Position. Tardiff was the first car that went out and his time stood as all 25 other drivers took their times only to come up short. Trevor Bayne, Matt DiBenedetto, Austin DIllon and Brett Moffitt rounded out the top five.

38 Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine *

16.562

9 Trevor Bayne, Knoxville, Tenn.

16.564

18 Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif.

16.603

3 Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C.

16.633

44 Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa *

16.655

40 Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn.

16.682

4 Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, Ind. *

16.684

71 Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass.

16.686

03 Patrick Long, Oak Park, Calif.

16.694

88 Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C.

16.697

63 John Salemi, Nashua, N.H.

16.709

72 Jason Cochran, Daytona Beach, Fla. *

16.736

35 Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y.

16.759

29 Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn.

16.76

39 Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y.

16.765

16 Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn.

16.77

7 Ryan Duff, Hazard, Ky.

16.77

23 Jarit Johnson, El Cajon, Calif. *

16.778

52 Kyle Fowler, Smyrna, Ga.

16.785

00 Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J. *

16.793

37 Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M.

16.82

17 Jason Patison, Corona, Calif.

16.885

61 Dominick Casola, Holmdel, N.J. *

16.949

12 Antonio Perez, Guadalajara, Mexico

16.962

10 Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa. *

16.994

94 Kristin Bumbera, Sealy, Texas *

17.005

Saturday - 6:41pm ET - Alan Tardiff has won the pole for tonight's Tri-County 150. We'll have the full results shortly.

Saturday - 5:25pm ET - The clock is ticking and we are now only 30 minutes from qualifying. We will be heading trackside for time trials. We'll have the results at the conclusion of qualifying.

Saturday - 4:55pm ET - We have a total 26 driver here today from get this 19 different states and one from Mexico. Talk about diversity. Drivers from Florida to California, from Maine to Mexico will take part in the Tri County 150.

Saturday - 4:50pm ET - Trevor Bayne is here today driving a one race deal for Dave Davis Motorsports. A year ago Bayne had a promising future with DEI Motorsports, but the as the Sprint Cup world turned upside down a year ago Bayne was left with a ride. We asked him what was next for him and he smiled and said he had no idea. Maybe a win tonight could go along way for the Knoxville, Tennessee driver.

Saturday - 4:29pm ET - The track remains silent here at Tri-County Speedway. Many driver are using this opportunity to rest up before tonight's event. We did see Matt Kobyluck, Alan Tardiff, Trevor Bayne, Matt Dibenedetto, Ryan Gifford and other walking around. He also caught up with Dustin Delaney who share a laugh with us when we looked at the this years roster vs. last years roster. Several drivers have come and gone through the series leaving Delaney as a veteran. He hopes for a solid finish tonight after being seventh fastest in the final practice session.

Saturday - 3:23pm ET - Here are the speeds from the final practice. We are going to take a lunch break like the the teams are doing as qualifying is not until 6pm. We'll be back before that with some news from the pits.

PICNo.NameBest TmBest Spd

Eddie MacDonald

16.778

85.827

Ryan Duff 16.817

85.628

Matt Dibenedetto

16.824

85.592

Patrick Long

16.884

85.288

Trevor Bayne

16.901

85.202

Austin Dillon

16.912

85.147

Dustin Delaney

16.948

84.966

Brett Moffitt*

16.952

84.946

Dakoda Armstrong*

16.958

84.916

Jody Lavende

16.967

84.871

Alan Tardiff

17.015

84.631

Matt Kobyluck

17.015

84.631

Kyle Fowler

17.016

84.626

Jason Cochran

17.020

84.606

Ryan Gifford

17.021

84.601

Jonathan Smith

17.038

84.517

Ryan Truex*

17.044

84.487

Jason Patison

17.046

84.477

John Salemi

17.071

84.354

Alex Kennedy*

17.079

84.314

Steve Park

17.116

84.132

Antonio Perez

17.189

83.775

Dominick Casola

17.206

83.692

Matthew Kurzejewski* 17.240

83.527

Kristin Bumbera* 17.337

83.059

Jarit Johnson*

17.459

82.479

Saturday - 3:09pm ET - The final practice is in the books and once again Eddie MacDonald was the fastest. We'll have the full list in a few minutes.

Saturday - 2:54pm ET - The last time the Camping World East Series was in action Brian Ickler went to victory lane. Today Ickler is in Kansas for the Camping World Truck race. After the first practice he was 20th on the time chart. Hopefully his luck will improve later in the day.

Saturday - 2:42pm ET - While you are here keeping up with the CWE action from Tri-County, make sure to check out Speed51.com's other Trackside Now coverage happening today at Orange County Speedway (NC) for the PASS South "Orange Blossom Special". click here for more

Saturday - 2:28pm ET - The cars are back on track for the second round of practice. Right now a half dozen cars are circling the track. One of those drivers is Alan Tardiff who hails from Lyman, Maine. Tardiff runs his car out of his own shop and they have been doing it on their own in selected events for several years now. Could tonight be the night that at Camping World trophy goes back to Maine for the first time since 2006 when Kelly Moore won at New Hampshire?

Saturday - 2:15pm ET - Here are the speeds from the first session. Eddie MacDonald was the fastest. Maine's Alan Tardiff was second fastest.

PIC No.Name Best Tm Best Spd

Eddie MacDonald

16.759

85.924

Alan Tardiff

16.822

85.602

Trevor Bayne

16.828

85.572

Patrick Long

16.842

85.501

Ryan Truex*

16.844

85.490

Matt Dibenedetto

16.846

85.480

Kyle Fowler

16.922

85.096

Brett Moffitt*

16.922

85.096

Jarit Johnson*

16.923

85.091

Alex Kennedy*

16.952

84.946

Austin Dillon

16.954

84.936

Matt Kobyluck

16.973

84.841

Jonathan Smith

16.982

84.796

Ryan Duff

17.061

84.403

Dustin Delaney

17.163

83.901

Jason Patison

17.177

83.833

Dakoda Armstrong* 17.184

83.799

Ryan Gifford

17.197

83.736

John Salemi

17.219

83.629

Jody Lavender

17.266

83.401

Jason Cochran*

17.271

83.377

Steve Park

17.287

83.300

Matthew Kurzejewski* 17.366

82.921

Antonio Perez

17.379

82.859

Dominick Casola

17.521

82.187

Kristin Bumbera*

17.600

81.818

Saturday - 1:46pm ET - The first practice is in the book and we were only slowed by two cautions for debris. Double checking our entry list you can move Dominick Casola to car number 61 and drop the 26 of Scott Bouley off our list to give us 26 cars. We should have speeds for you in a few minutes. Pit road was very busy during practice as teams were changing just about everything.

Saturday - 12:40pm ET - Here is the pre race entry list: We will update this after practice at 1pm. We will be after the first practice.

Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J. *

Dominick Casola, Holmdel, N.J. *

Patrick Long, Oak Park, Calif.

Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C.

Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, Ind. *

Ryan Duff, Hazard, Ky.

Trevor Bayne, Knoxville, Tenn.

Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa. *

Antonio Perez, Guadalajara, Mexico

Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn.

Jason Patison, Corona, Calif.

Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif.

Jarit Johnson, El Cajon, Calif. *

Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn.

Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn.

Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y.

Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M. *

Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine

Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y.

Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn.

Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa *

Kyle Fowler, Smyrna, Georgia

John Salemi, Nashua, N.H.

Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass.

Jason Cochran, Daytona Beach, Fla. *

Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C.

Kristin Bumbera, Sealy, Texas *

Saturday - 12:20pm ET - We have a short list of former winners in the field today. They include 2008 series champion Matt Kobyluck, Steve Park, Trevor Bayne, Eddie MacDonald and Austin Dillon. Just because we have only five driver who have won races doesn't mean that the list of potential winners is short. Former four time Camping World East Series Champion Andy Santerre is here with rookie Brett Moffitt in his car. Moffitt took the pole at the last race at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

Another former champion Mike Olsen has a car in the field today as well with Jonathan Smith behind the wheel. Ken Schrader has Pro Late Model standout Kyle Fowler in his car today. Fowler will be making his first ever Camping World East Series start. Super Late Model star Mike Fritts will be his crew chief. Schrader also has Dakota Armstrong driving for him as well.

Saturday - 12:10pm ET - The drivers meeting just took place here at the start-finish line. There was nothing really out of the ordinary as far as rules go. One interesting note was that 2008 Series champion Matt Kobyluck stood up and told the drivers that they need to be patient on a track today. Several of the drivers in the field have never been to this track and some have are making their first Camping World East start today. Kobluck also told Speed51.com that he like running at a new track, because it's a clean slate for everyone with testing allowed this season.

Saturday - 12:02pm ET - Good afternoon and welcome to summer at Tri-County Speedway! Ok it may still be April, but the weather is expected to touch 90 degrees here today in Hudson, North Carolina. Today the Camping World East Series is tackling the 4/10th's of mile track for the first time. We'll have all the action for today.

Here is today's Schedule for the Tri-County 150

Saturday, April 25

8:30 a.m. Registration opens

9 a.m. Garage opens

9:30 a.m. Inspection begins

11:30 a.m. Drawing to determine order of qualifying

1-1:45 p.m. Practice

2:15-3 p.m. Final Practice

3:15 p.m. Qualifying Inspection opens

6 p.m. Qualifying (2 Laps)

7 p.m. Driver Autograph Session.

8 p.m. TRI-COUNTY 150