(Watkins Glen, N.Y. - August 14, 2004) - There was no bigger disappointment coming out of Watkins Glen International's Saturday activities than that of Bill Penfold. The Yarmouth, Maine driver had been anticipating returning to the 2.45-mile road course since finishing fourth there last year, and he was ready to improve on that further with this year's stop by the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series. Unfortunately, just three laps into the event, Penfold was involved in an accident that knocked his VIP Charter Coach Chevrolet out of the race.

Denied the chance to qualify due to rain and fog that blanketed the track for most of the day on Friday, Penfold was to start the race back in the thirteenth place. But after posting the eighteenth fastest lap in practice with a comfortable car, Penfold had reason to be optimistic for the race.

All that changed just three laps into the event.

"I was coming up through the Esses and Mike [Johnson] was on the inside," Penfold explained. "I figured that I was a lot faster so I just set on the outside to go by. He started to lose it and he came across. We touched just a little bit, so I backed right off. But he spun back around and got me in the door and that put me into the wall."

The damage was severe, and Penfold was forced to retire from the event.

"I didn't want to wind up like we did," he said. "I had a car that could have won the race. It was a shame. Mike let me borrow gears at Loudon, so he's generally a good guy. I know he didn't do anything intentionally, and I hope he knows I didn't. I was trying to go to the outside because I had a lot faster car and he was struggling. I gave him the preferred line, I was just going to go by on the outside. Either his spotter didn't tell him I was out there or something, and that's one of those deals. I really had a lot for the front. We started thirteenth, but in just a couple laps we were sixth or seventh, so we were really on the fly. It's a shame. I'm just disappointed as hell."

Penfold will try to bounce back next Saturday at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway just down the road from the Penfold Motorsports shop.

Mohegan Sun 150 presented by Pepsi
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y., Saturday, August 14
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS (finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown,
manufacturer, laps completed, reason out if any, money won)

1. (20) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., Ford, 62, $18,021
2. (10) Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt., Chevrolet, 62, $9,221
3. (6) Dale Quarterley, Westfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 62, $7,121
4. (5) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 62, $5,821
5. (7) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 62, $4,821
6. (28) Paul Wolfe, Milford, N.Y., Chevrolet, 62, $4,900
7. (1) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield, Me., Chevrolet, 62, $4,721
8. (8) Joey McCarthy, Randolph, N.J., Chevrolet, 62, $3,921
9. (31) Rick Bell, Salisbury, Mass., Pontiac, 62, $3,000
10. (27) Jeremy Treadway, Ticonderoga, N.Y., Pontiac, 62, $2,700
11. (9) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 62, $3,021
12. (29) Jack Lewis, Norcross, Ga., Ford, 62, $2,300
13. (12) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Ford, 62, $2,721
14. (3) Kelly Moore, Scarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 62, $2,621
15. (34) Jeff Anton, Westfield, Mass., Pontiac, 62, $2,000
16. (25) Bryan Wall, Plaistow, N.H., Ford, 62, $1,900
17. (16) Ryan Seaman, Toms River, N.J., Chevrolet, 62, $2,321
18. (14) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 62, $2,296
19. (2) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 61, $2,271
20. (18) Kip Stockwell, Braintree, Vt., Pontiac, 61, $2,146
21. (11) Bobby Dragon, Milton, Vt., Chevrolet, 60, $2,121
22. (19) Barney McRae, Colchester, Vt., Pontiac, 58, $2,096
23. (17) Scott Bouley, Thomaston, Conn., Chevrolet, 58, $2,071
24. (26) Jinmy Morales, Mexico City, Mexico, Chevrolet, 56, $1,525
25. (15) Jamie Aube, Manchester, N.,H., Chevrolet, 55, Engine, $2,021
26. (32) Tom Carey, Orange, Mass., Chevrolet, 48, Accident, $1,400
27. (30) George Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., Ford, 48, Transmission, $1,400
28. (33) Jeff Spraker, Latham, N.Y., Chevrolet, 47, Accident, $1,400
29. (23) Doug Krpata, Bethpage, N.Y., Chevrolet, 34, Running, $1,921
30. (24) Brad Bennett, Stamford, Conn., Frord, 27, Engine, $1,921
31. (22) Tim Andrews, Coccord, N.C., Chevrolet, 22, Engine, $1,921
32. (21) John Cerbone, City Island, N.Y., Chevrolet, 19, Handling, $1,921
33. (4) Ryan Moore, Scarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 16, Accident, $1,921
34. (13) Bill Penfold,. Yarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 3, Accident, $1,921

TIME: 2 hours, 4 minutes, 56 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 72.951 miles per hour
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .211 seconds
CAUTION PERIODS: 6 for 23 laps
LEAD CHANGES: 5 among 5 drivers
LAP LEADERS: Andy Santerre 1, Matt Kobyluck 2-16, Dale Quarterley 17-24,
             Kobyluck 25-29, Brian Hoar 30-34, Brad Leighton 35-62
BUSCH POLE AWARD: Not awarded, qualifying cancelled due to inclement weather
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Paul Wolfe, Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Dale Quarterley, Chevrolet

UNOFFICIAL BUSCH NORTH SERIES POINTS (wins)
1. Andy Santerre (4) 1804
2. Mike Olsen 1722
3. Kelly Moore (1) 1582
4. Dale Quarterley (1) 1568
5. Matt Kobyluck (1) 1566
6. Mike Stefanik 1549
7. Ryan Moore 1514
8. Joey McCarthy 1511
9. Brian Hoar 1455
10. Mike Johnson (1) 1439

14.  0  Bill Penfold 1302

NEXT RACE: Irving Oil 150, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Me.,
Saturday, August 21