Andy Santerre Motorsports Team Members Recognized
at NASCAR’s Busch East Series Banquet

For the last four years, the NASCAR Busch North Series banquet ended with Andy Santerre making the night’s final speech as the tour’s championship-winning driver.

 

 

For 2006, Santerre got out of the driver’s seat and into the role of team owner as the tour transitioned into the NASCAR Busch East Series.  He watched a close championship fight that saw his good friend Mike Olsen beat Andy’s own driver Sean Caisse for the title.  So this year’s banquet was a little bit less work for Santerre.

 

 “Andy told me earlier today that the best thing this year was that he could get on and off the stage without having to make a speech,” said Master of Ceremonies, Mike Joy.

 

Well, Santerre might have gotten off easy, but a few members of his #44 Casella Waste Systems / Andy Santerre Motorsports race team didn’t.  Caisse was noted for both his runner-up point finish and with the 2006 Busch Pole Award.  Meanwhile, Sue Santerre was awarded the 2006 Busch East Series Auxiliary Award.

 

“If success is a journey, so far I have had one heck of a ride,” said Caisse to the audience at the Mohegan Sun Resort.  “I need to thank to Steve and Peg Griswold for giving Andy and Sue Santerre the opportunity to start their own team and thank for Andy and Sue for letting me drive for them.  I can’t thank you enough; you’ve changed my life.

 

“Andy has been an outstanding crew chief, owner and friend.  I also had a crew behind me this year that never gave up believing in me even though I was the new kid on the block.”

 

While Caisse went into the function knowing what was in store, Sue Santerre’s honors came as a total surprise to her.  Her friend Lynn Leighton presented the award.

 

“This has been a long time coming,” said Leighton.  “She’s someone who doesn’t sit around waiting for things to happen, she makes them happen.”

 

The ASM team now will go to work preparing for their 2007 Busch East Series campaign and Caisse is already looking ahead to next year’s banquet – with one minor change hopefully in store.

 

“I just have one more position to gain for next year,” said Caisse.

 

The 2007 NASCAR Busch East Series season is set to kick off on April 28th at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (SC).