Andy Santerre Heads Home to New Hampshire for his Final Busch North Race of 2000 and to Support The Choose Life Foundation!

Harrisburg, NC - Andy Santerre, a NASCAR Busch Series regular, will compete in the Busch North Series 125, his final NASCAR Busch North race of the season, at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 16, 2000.

Santerre heads to New Hampshire hoping to make it two wins in a row on the Busch North Series. Santerre won the glen.com 150 presented by Pepsi at Watkins Glen Speedway in August and he is praying for a repeat, "I really want to win this one!" Santerre comments. "Not for the reasons you might think though. I want to win this race in memory of my close friend, Beth Wright, who passed away August 23, 2000 after a year and a half battle with advanced breast cancer. She was 28 years old and had two boys under the age of four."

Santerre, a Cherryfield, Maine native and the 1998 Busch Series Rookie of the Year", initiated a promotion for the September 16th event at NHIS to aid his friend, Beth, in raising money for The Choose Life Foundation - an organization dedicated to improve and enhance the lives of cancer patients by providing spiritual and inspirational literature - a foundation she started in the last months of her life. For a $5.00 raffle ticket, fans had the chance to sponsor the trunk deck on Santerre's winning Busch North Series racecar. In addition to having their name on the car, the winner would receive other perks like a guided Winston Cup Garage Tour, one night's lodging, $50.00 spending cash, and be named honorary pit crew member for the race. Ninetta Kearns of Cherryfield, Maine won the raffle when her ticket was drawn out of over 2000 entries.

"I was at work and a friend of mine called to tell me I won the raffle," Ninetta Kearns explained. "I was so surprised because even though I gave a donation, I didn't fill a raffle ticket out. I found out that my son bought some tickets and put my name on one. I can't wait to go, I have never been to the Speedway before."

"My wife, Sue, and I came up with the idea to raffle the trunk deck of the car to raise money for Beth's foundation," Santerre explains. "We approached Beth about the idea in July and she was so excited. I believe it gave her something to look forward to and to get involved with, she was so happy about what we were doing." Santerre continues, " We were right in the middle of the promotion when she passed away much sooner than any one expected. We spoke to her and her husband, Wayne, almost daily those last two weeks of her life. She really wanted this fundraiser to be a success and she worked hard trying to make it a success right up until the time she went into the hospital for the last time. I am proud to say that it was more successful than we ever dreamed! In one month, we raised over $10,000 for the foundation."

The promotion grew so fast, that the sponsorship on the #44 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevrolet has changed. Team EJP, a Gardiner, Maine based company and one of Santerre's major sponsors on the Busch North Series since 1996, offered to remove their decal from the hood in order to give The Choose Life Foundation their prime location. Team EJP will be placed on the rear quarter panels with WHELEN Engineering and will also go on the truck deck. Wynn Oil Company and Team ASE will remain in their original locations.

Santerre will be making his 101st start on the NASCAR Busch North Series on Saturday in hopes of earning his 10th career Busch North victory. He plans to dedicate the entire weekend - win, lose or draw - to Beth Wright and The Choose Life Foundation.

"Beth was such a special person, so caring and giving to those around her," Santerre reminisced. "She had a unique ability to inspire others and to give hope. I am blessed to have had Beth as a part of my life for the last 13 years. Everyone who knew her will miss her, myself included."

A photo opportunity/press conference will be held in the infield media center Saturday morning with Andy Santerre, promotion winner, Ninetta Kearns, and Beth's widow, Wayne Wright. Santerre will present the check, for over $10,000, to Wayne and Beth's family prior to driver introductions.

"We have done everything in our power to bring awareness to this Foundation and to help raise money," the 32-year old Santerre conceded. "We raised more than we ever dreamed of raising and are proud of our accomplishments. We hope that a win at NHIS on Saturday will cap off the perfect weekend and allow us to remember Beth and share her legacy with others."

The Choose Life Foundation relies on the generous donation of businesses and individuals. Donations can be sent directly to The Choose Life Foundation, Inc. C/O Wayne Wright RR 1, Box 879 Addison, Maine 04606 or call 207.483.6504 for more information about the foundation or to receive a free care package, shipped anywhere in the continental United States at no charge.

"See, I have set before you this day, the choice; good and evil, the blessing and the curse, life and death. Therefore, choose Life!" - Deuteronomy