Kobyluck’s Dominating Performance Ends With Accident

Matt Kobyluck hoped to give the Flying Deuce Army Unit a welcoming home party they would not forget in victory lane. The unit, which just returned home to their Fort Drum base from Iraq, were at The Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway Saturday night cheering on the Mohegan Sun Casino driver only three days after touching ground on U.S. Territory. Though he didn’t win the Busch East Series race, Kobyluck gave them plenty to cheer about.

“We had a top-three car, and I don’t know if I could have contended for the win or not because I wasn’t able to run with those guys at the end of the race to see how their cars were. I think we would have had a shot at it though,” said Kobyluck. “I’m disappointed that it seems that guys that don’t ordinarily run in the top-five use bad judgment when they are there, and things happen that were avoidable.”

Kobyluck was on target all day. In practice, the Mohegan Sun Casino team were on the top of the speed charts, and they backed it up with a qualifying effort of 15.455 seconds (87.350 mph) for a second place starting position on the grid.

At the drop of the green, Kobyluck dropped back to third saying, “The initial green kind of took me by surprise. I think we took off a little bit early. It caught me off guard actually, and I dropped back into third place. It was no big deal because that’s probably

where I would have ended up anyway. It was too early in the race to really press the envelope.”

Kobyluck remained a solid third place car until lap 92 when things started to unravel. A confusing crash sent the Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet to the pits, and ultimately, to the tail end of the lead lap.

“We had a restart, and we went a complete lap when the next thing I know, the 48 hooked a hard left. The only thing I can figure is that his spotter hadn’t told him he wasn’t clear of me yet, and he came across my right front. When things settled, he checked up and I got into the rear of him. It was an unfortunate accident.”

The crew pulled out the sheet metal on the Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet, and made a few track bar changes before sending him back into action. The hurdle appeared just that – a bump in the road – as Kobyluck maneuvered his way through traffic with ease. He broke the top-10 by 110, and really came on strong after a lap 120 restart. On lap 127, Kobyluck was sixth where he would remain until the checkers dropped.

The Busch East Series, Grand National Division returns to action at New Hampshire International Speedway on Friday, July 14th. Kobyluck, who did some pre-season research and development in West Series races at Phoenix International Speedway is excited about returning to New England’s premier track.

“I think we have a good shot to win there,” Kobyluck said confidently. “The car we’re bringing is the same one we won with at Thompson. The car performed remarkably well there, and we’re looking to back that up with a good finish at NHIS.”