Santerre-Reece Motorsports Announces Busch Series Plans

Mooresville, North Carolina - Santerre-Reece Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Busch Series driver, Andy Santerre and area businessman, Mike Reece, announced plans to form a NASCAR Busch Series team in November. Since then, Santerre-Reece Motorsports has hired a crew chief , a crew, obtained a number from NASCAR and want to announce their plans for the 2001 NASCAR Busch and Busch North Series seasons.

Santerre-Reece Motorsports will run the #01 on their Chevrolet Monte Carlos for at least eight and up to 15 NASCAR Busch Series events with co-owner and former Busch Series "Rookie of the Year" Andy Santerre, behind the wheel.

The first eight races they plan to run include Rockingham, Bristol, Nashville, Richmond, New Hampshire, Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, and Pikes Peak.

"I am more excited about this year than I have ever been," Santerre, a Cherryfield, native, exclaimed. "We have a great shop in Mooresville, I have hired a great core group of guys, I am working in the shop every day, working on cars and enjoying myself more than ever. We are building new cars and getting ready to go, but we are having fun doing it and that is the most important part." Santerre continues, " I have been told I'm doing this (owning and driving) the hard way, but I don't look at it that way. I am doing what I want, how I want, and I'm in control of my own destiny. There is nothing in the world that I would rather be doing right now."

Santerre and co-owner, Mike Reece, hired racing veteran and fellow Maine native, Stan Meserve, to act as crew chief for the new team. Meserve has over three decades of diverse racing experience. Not only was he a talented driver, winning track championships at every track in the State of Maine, before he retired in 1998 after winning the Pro Stock Championship at Oxford Plains Speedway the same year; but, Meserve has experience as a technical inspector for a sanctioning body and he owned his own business, Distance Racing Products, building chassis and selling retail parts from 1983 - 1998.

Meserve was also instrumental in influencing the careers of many race car drivers in New England and Canada, but two drivers in particular, Ricky Craven and Andy Santerre.

"I have known Stan for over 10 years," Santerre stated. "I have wanted the chance to work with him for a long time. He and I think a like when it comes to the racecar and he has an open mind when it comes to trying things. I am thrilled that Stan opted to sign on with our team as I will have a chance to work with my long-time friend and gain some of his extensive knowledge. Santerre-Reece Motorsports will be more competitive with him working here."

The 59-year old Meserve concurs, "I feel this is going to be as successful as any new Busch team can be. Andy has all the qualities to succeed at this just as he has at everything else in his life. I've known him since he started racing up North. We think alike, which is so vital in this sport; and I know that the goals we set, we will both give 100% to reach them."

Meserve finishes, "I couldn't be happier being his crew chief. Personally, I'll take great pride in whatever success I can help him achieve as team owner. Beyond that, we will enjoy racing for the sake of racing."

Meserve comes to Santerre-Reece Motorsports after working with Ricky Craven for the past two seasons as crew chief on Craven's Busch Series efforts and spotter for his #50 Midwest Transit Winston Cup team.

Santerre and Reece have also hired veteran crew members, Wayne Severance, Kenneth Jackson and David Button. Involved in the mix as crew member and Busch North Series driver, Tom Carey Jr., an Orange, Massachusetts native, joined the team and will pilot the #44 Santerre-Reece Motorsports entry in four NASCAR Busch North Series events in 2001.

"I am looking forward to working with and learning from Andy," Carey commented. "I have raced against him and know first hand his driving talent and the impressive caliber of his equipment. There is no doubt in my mind that Andy and the team can and will give me the equipment I need to win races. I am excited about the four races we are doing and hope to be as competitive as Andy was last season." Carey concludes, "I respect Andy as an owner and fellow driver, we can both learn from each other and be better drivers and people because of it. Together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I can't wait to start racing."

Carey is a former New England Pro Stock driver with over 40 career victories and two track championships at Riverside Park Speedway to his credit. Carey also raced three seasons on the NASCAR Busch North Series enjoying amazing success. In just three years of competition, Carey earned four victories, nine Bud Pole Awards - including setting four track records that still stand - 15 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes. Carey, Like Santerre in his sophomore season, was awarded the Busch North Series "Most Popular Driver" by his peers. Carey competed on the Craftsman Truck Series in 2000 on a limited basis.

Santerre-Reece Motorsports has signed a major associate sponsor and hopes to have news to release on a primary sponsor in the upcoming months.